Stack 

Annex 

PS 

1522 

D5 

1909 


tornia 

r  • 


DICTATOR 

A  Play  in  Three  Acts 


By 


"Soldiers  of  Fortune,"  "Ranson's  Folly,"  "In  the  Fog, 
"Van  Bibber,"  "Gallegher,"  &c. 


New  York 
CHARLES   SCRIBNER'S   SONS 


NEW  YORK 
SAMUEL  FRENCH 

PUBLISHES 

25  WEST  45th  STREET 


LONDON 

SAMUEL  FRENCH.  LTD. 

26  SOUTHAMPTON  STREET 

STRAND,  LONDON 


COPYRIGHT,  1906,  1909,  BY 
CHARLES  SCRIBNER'S  SONS 

This  play  is  in  every  way  protected  by  the  copyright  law. 
Without  the  permission  of  the  owners  of  the  acting  rights  it 
cannot  be  produced  either  by  professionals  or  amateurs. 
Reprinted  by  permission  of  Charles  Scribner's  Sons. 

THE  DICTATOR 
ALL   RIGHTS   RESERVED 


Especial  notice  should  be  taken  that  the  possession  of 
this  book  without  a  valid  contract  for  production  first 
having  been  obtained  from  the  publisher,  confers  no  right 
or  license  to  professionals  or  amateurs  to  produce  the  play 
publicly  or  in  private  for  gain  or  charity. 

In  its  present  form  this  play  is  dedicated  to  the  reading 
public  only,  and  no  performance,  representation,  produc 
tion,  recitation,  or  public  reading,  or  radio  broadcasting 
may  be  given  except  by  special  arrangement  with  Samuel 
French,  25  West  45th  Street,  New  York. 

This  play  may  be  presented  by  amateurs  upon  payment 
of  a  royalty  of  Fifty  Dollars  for  each  performance,  pay 
able  to  Samuel  French,  25  West  45th  Street,  New  York, 
one  week  before  the  date  when  the  play  is  given. 

Whenever  the  play  is  produced  the  following  notice  must 
appear  on  all  programs,  printing  and  advertising  for  the 
play :  "Produced  by  special  arrangement  with  Samuel 
French  of  New  York." 

Attention  is  called  to  the  penalty  provided  by  law  for 
any  infringement  of  the  author's  rights  as  follows. 

"SECTION  4966: — Any  person  publicly  performing  or  rep 
resenting  any  dramatic  or  musical  composition  for  which 
copyright  has  been  obtained,  without  the  consent  of  the 
proprietor  of  said  dramatic  or  musical  composition,  or  his 
heirs  and  assigns,  shall  be  liable  for  damages  thereof,  such 
damages,  in  all  cases  to  be  assessed  at  such  sum,  not  less 
than  one  hundred  dollars  for  the  first  and  fifty  dollars  for 
every  subsequent  performance,  as  to  the  court  shall  appear 
to  be  just.  If  the  unlawful  performance  and  representation 
be  wilful  and  for  profit,  such  person  of  persons  shall  be 
guilty  of  a  misdemeanor,  and  upon  conviction  shall  be  im 
prisoned  for  a  period  not  exceeding  one  year." — U  S 
Revised  Statutes :  Title  60,  Chap.  3. 


4)5 


THE  DICTATOR 


2114999 


The  CAST  of  THE  DICTATOR  as  presented  April  4,  1904, 

by  CHARLES  FROHMAN  at  the  CRITERION 

THEATRE,  New  York. 


THE  PERSONS   IN   THE   PLAY 

BROOKE  TRAVERS,  alias  "  Steve  "  Hill William  Collier 

SIMPSON,  his  valet,  alias  "  Jim  "  Dodd Edward  Abeles 

CHART  FY  HYNF          $  wireless  telegraph  operator  )         T  ,       r>,lrrvm, 
E (         for  the  Red  C  Line         J  '  '  -Jui 

COLONEL  JOHN  T.  BOWIE.  .  {  ^^^llano"8111  **  }  '  'George  Nash 

DUFFY,  a  secret-service  detective Thomas  McGrath 

EEV.  ARTHUR  BOSTICK Henry  J.  West 

LIEUTENANT  PERRY,  U.  S.  S.  Oregon Thomas  Meighan 

SAMUEL  CODMAN {  ^pto£eSfcth£i*e°Kt''ir'  j  .  ..  .Emmctt  Whitney 

GENERAL  SANTOS  CAMPOS  ...I  President  of  )        .Eobert  McWade,  Jr. 

(  San  Manana  j 

DR.  VASQUEZ,  health  officer  at  Porto  Banos Francis  Sedgwick 

SENOR  JOSE  DRAVO,  proprietor  of  the  Hotel  del  Prado.  ..  .Louis  Eagan 

CORPORAL  MANUEL Wallace  McCutcheon 

COLONEL  GARCIA,  aide  to  General  Campos Harry  Senton 

SMOKING-ROOM  STEWARD Augustus  Goodson 

LUCY  SHERIDAN Nanette  Comstock 

MRS.  JOHN  T.  BOWIE Lucille  Watson 

SENORA  JUANITA  ARGUILLA Louise  Allen 

Soldiers,  Sailors,  Ship's  Stewards,  etc. 

ACT  I 
Deck  of  the  Steamer  Bolivar,  Harbor  of  Porto  Banos. 

ACT  II 
Three  hours  later.    The  Consulate  of  the  United  States,  Porto  Banos. 

ACT  III 
Two  hours  later.     The  same. 

TIME— The  Present. 
PLACE — Porto  Banos,  Republic  of  San  Manana,  Central  America. 


ACT  I. 

The  scene  shouts  the  deck  of  the  "  Bolivar,"  a  passenger 
steamer  fitted  for  the  tropics.  The  portion  of  the 
ship  represented  is  as  one  looks  across  the  deck  from 
one  rail  to  the  other.  Only  the  rail  on  the  side  of 
the  ship  farthest  from  the  audience  is  seen.  The 
back  drop  shoivs  the  harbor,  and,  at  a  distance  of  a 
quarter  of  a  mile,  the  town  of  Porto  Banos,  with  a 
line  of  cocoanut  palms,  wharves,  white  houses  with 
red  roofs,  and  yellow  public  buildings.  Beyond  the 
town  is  a  high  range  of  mountains.  Running  off 
the  stage  to  the  left  is  a  superstructure  in  which  are 
the  passengers'  cabins.  In  this,  ivell  on  the  stage, 
a  cabin  window  and  the  door  to  the  cabin  face  the 
audience.  When  this  door  is  open  one  can  see  the 
interior  of  the  cabin,  with  berths,  a  swinging  lamp 
and  a  steamer  trunk.  On  top  of  this  superstructure 
is  the  office  of  the  operator  of  the  wireless  telegraph. 
It  looks  like  a  chart  room  or  coi'ered  companion  way. 
Only  a  foot  or  two  of  it  is  in  sight.  The  door  in  it 
is  open  toward  the  right,  permitting  the  audience  to 
see,  issuing  from  inside  the  office,  electric  sparks  and 
flashes,  and  to  hear  the  sputtering  of  the  instrument. 
An  iron  ladder  runs  down  the  side  of  the  super 
structure  to  the  stage.  Running  off  the  stage  to  the 
right  is  a  similar  superstructure,  which  is  the  pas 
sengers'  smoking  room.  Outside  the  smoking  room 
are  set  two  wooden  armchairs,  painted  white.  Under 
the  cabin  window  a  steamer  chair  stretches  tmvard 
the  audience.  The  light  is  that  of  sunrise  in  the 

[3] 


tropics.     It  is  supposed  that  the  ship  is  just  coming 
to  anchor. 

At  rise  of  the  curtain  CAPTAIN  CODMAN,  with  his  back 
to  the  audience,  is  discovered  leaning  against  the 
rail.  From  the  open  door  of  the  wireless  office 
come  flashes  of  electric  light  and  the  buzzing  of  the 
wireless. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

(Looking  up,  as  though  hailing  some  one  above  him  and 
off  right.)  Mr.  McKensie! 

VOICE. 

(Off  right.)     Aye,  aye,  sir! 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

(Calling.)     Hold  her  where  she  is  now.     Stop  her! 

VOICE. 
Aye,  aye,  sir!     (One  bell  sounds.) 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Lower  away  your  anchors. 

VOICE. 

Forward  there!  Leg'go  your  anchors!  (The  sound  of 
running  anchor  chains  is  heard  and  orders  in  a  hoarse 
voice  from  the  distance  still  farther  to  the  right.  CODMAN 
comes  down.  He  is  a  bhiff,  red-faced,  white-haired  Cape 
Cod  sea  captain.  He  wears  an  officer's  blue  cap  and  a  white- 
duck  suit,  around  the  sleeves  of  which  are  bands  of  tarnished 
gold  braid.  HYNE  has  entered  from  office  of  wireless.  He 
is  a  young  man  of  rather  dissipated  appearance.  He 
wears  soiled  duck  trousers  supported  by  a  belt,  a  striped 
linen  shirt  with  pink  garters  around  the  sleeves,  a  handker 
chief  tucked  inside  his  collar,  and  a  duck  yachting  cap 


THE   DICTATOR 

bearing  the  insignia  of  a  skip's  officer.     His  appearance 
is  that  of  a  man  who  has  been  up  all  night.) 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Well — did  you  get  my  "wireless"  through? 
HYNE. 

(From  upper  deck  descends  ladder  to  stage.)  No;  there's 
nobody  at  the  other  end. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Ain't  you  going  to  try  any  more? 

HYNE. 

What's  the  use  of  trying  when  there's  nobody  there? 
The  only  sure  way  to  get  a  wireless  telegram  through — 
that  I  know — is  to  take  it  ashore  in  a  rowboat. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Well,  you  ought  to  know  how  to  do  it.  The  company 
pays  you  to  do  it — 

HYNE. 

If  the  company  paid  me  for  all  the  work  I  did,  I  wouldn't 
have  to  work.  I  agreed  to  come  down  here  and  take 
charge  of  that  wireless  station  (points  toward  Porto 
Banos),  and  you've  made  me  do  the  work  of  three  men. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

W'ell,  the  chief  steward's  ill,  and  the  doctor  can't  leave 
his  berth. 

HYNE. 

Yes,  and  I've  been  purser,  barkeeper,  medical  man. 
"  Bo'sun  tight,  an'  the  midshipmite, 

And  the  crew  of  the  Captain's  gig." 
Been  mixing  medicines,  mixing  drinks,  and   now  I  got 
the  company's  account  mixed.     (Crosses  right.) 

[5] 


THE   DICTATOR 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

If  you  didn't  mix  so  many  drinks  you  wouldn't  mix 
your  accounts.     Send  the  boy  to  my  cabin  with  my  coffee. 

HYNE. 
Yes,  sir!     (Calling  into  smoking  room.)     Steward! 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

And  you  better  drink  something  yourself. 

HYNE. 


sir! 


(Turns  with  a  smile  of  assent  and  anticipation.}     Yes, 


CAPT.    CODMAN. 


Coffee  (HYNE'S  face  drops) — no  more  swizzles.  (Goes 
up  stage  and  look's  over  bulwark  rail.) 

HYNE. 

No,  sir.  (STEWARD  appears  at  door  of  smoking  room.) 
Captain  wants  his  coffee  in  his  cabin. 

STEWARD. 
(Crosses  left.)     Yes,  sir.     Anything  for  you,  sir? 

HYNE. 

(Virtuously.)     No.     (In  a  whisper.)     A  Manhattan. 

STEWARD. 

(In  a  whisper.)     All  right,  sir!     (Goes  off  left.) 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

(Coming  down  and  taking  up  thread  of  former  conver 
sation.)  There's  been  too  much  drinking  this  trip — and 
too  much  poker-playing.  I'm  glad  some  of  these  pas 
sengers  are  going  ashore.  Two  of  'em  is  card  sharps. 

[6] 


THE  DICTATOR 

HYNE. 

Really?     Which  two,  sir? 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

You  know  'em  well  enough.  Those  New  York  sports, 
that  came  over  the  side  just  as  we  sailed. 

HYNE. 
Mr.  "Steve"  and  Mr.  "Jim"? 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

(Mysteriously.}  That's  what  they  call  each  other  in 
the  smoking  room,  but  one  night  in  front  of  the  wheel- 
house,  when  they  didn't  know  I  was  inside,  they  called 
each  other  very  different  names — 

HYNE. 
Called  each  other  names,  did  they? 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Called  each  other  Mr.  This  and  Mr.  That — very  stiff 
and  polite. 

HYNE. 

Well,  any  purser  that  sails  for  these  ports  has  got  to 
take  any  name  the  passenger  chooses  to  give  him. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Oh,  I  make  allowances,  but  that  Mr.  Steve  is  a  rascal! 
You  might  think  this  was  his  yacht,  might  think  /  was  his 
sailing  master.  "Old  Salt, "he  calls  me.  "Hello,  Old 
Salt ! "  he  says.  I  give  him  a  good  answer  yesterday. 
When  he  says  "Good  morning,  Old  Salt,"  I  says  "Good 
morning,  young  Fresh,"  I  says.  (Chuckles.)  My  first 
officer,  he  laughed  fit  to  choke  when  I  says  that. 

[7] 


THE   DICTATOR 


HYXE. 


(Morosely.}     Yes — he  would.     Sort  of  a  joke  that  first 
officer  would  laugh  at — when  the  Captain  makes  it. 


CAPT.    CODMAN. 


(Turning  on  HYNE.)    See  here!  don't  you  be  too  familiar 
or  you'll  lose  your  job. 


HYNE. 

I  wouldn't  mind  losing  two  of  my  jobs.  I  tell  you,  I'm 
doing  the  work  of  three  men  now. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

You  can't  do  the  work  of  one  man  if  you  spend  all  your 
time  in  the  smoking  room  with  them — rascals.  I  see  you, 
especially  with  the  little  one  that  looks  like  he  seen  a 
ghost. 

HYNE. 

I  don't  recognize  him.     Which  is  he? 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Why,  the  one  that  (points  left} — that  one.  (Moves 
right.}  Hurry  up  that  coffee!  (He  goes  off  below  the 
smoking  room.) 

HYNE. 

Yes,  sir.  (Turns  to  go  left,  but  stops  when  he  sees  JIM 
SIMPSON,  or  "  JIM,"  enter  lower  left.  JIM  is  a  young  Eng 
lishman,  smooth-shaven,  and  with  the  deferential  air  of  a 
servant.  He  has  a  nervous,  frightened  manner,  and  is 
neatly  but  plainly  dressed  in  a  single-breasted  suit  of  blue 
serge,  golf  cap,  and  tan  shoes.) 

JIM. 
Good  morning. 


THE  DICTATOR 

HYNE. 

Good  morning. 

JIM. 

Why  have  the  engines  stopped? 

HYNE. 

I  guess  that  engineer  forgot  to  wind  them  up  last  night. 
( Turns  and  points  at  Porto  Banos.}  Look  where  you  are. 

JIM. 

(Turning  and  looking  toward  the  land.}  Why,  we're 
there  !  From  my  side  of  the  ship  you  can't  see  anything 
hut  water.  (STEWARD  enters  lower  left,  bearing  tray  with 
coffee  cup  and  cocktail  glass,  crossing  down  right  in  front 
of  HYNE.) 

HYNE. 

(To  STEWARD,  when  he  has  passed  him.}  Here,  that's 
mine!  (To  JIM.)  Have  a  drink? 

JIM. 
No,  thanks. 

HYNE. 
You  better. 

JIM. 

No,  thanks,  it's  too  early. 

HYNE. 

(Taking  the  cocktail.}  It's  never  too  early  for  a  drink. 
It  may  be  too  late.  (Drinks.}  You're  too  late  for  that 
one.  (Returns  glass;  STEWARD  goes  off  right.) 

JIM. 

(Coming  down.}     And — and  is  that  Porto  Banos? 
[9] 


THE  DICTATOR 

HYNE. 

Yes — and  it's  the  hottest  and  unhealthiest  hole  south 
of  Yucatan.  And  that's  where  I  got  to  live  the  rest  of  my 
life,  unless  I  win  out  by  dying  of  yellow  fever. 

JIM. 

I  thought  your  job  was  on  the  ship — to  run  the  wireless 
and  run  errands,  and — 

HYNE. 

No — I  been  promoted — to  that  fever  swamp.  We've 
got  our  wireless  station  in  the  consulate.  Our  operator 
moved  in  the  day  the  last  Consul  died  of  yellow  fever;  the 
next  day  the  operator  died.  I  wonder  which  will  be  the 
next  one  to  go.  You — or  I — or  Mr.  Steve. 

JIM. 

(Looking  about  him  timidly,  and  moving  nearer  to  Hyne.} 
Well,  Mr.  Steve — Steve  and  I  were  talking  it  over  last 
night  and  we  think  we  don't  want  to  go  to  Porto  Banos. 

HYNE. 

Don't  want  to  go?  But  you're  there!  Why  didn't 
you  think  of  that  before  you  left  New  York  ? 

JIM. 

Well,  you  see,  in  New  York  the  doctor — the  doctor 
ordered  Mr.  Steve  to  take  a  sea  voyage — for  his  health; 
but  we  left  so  suddenly  we — we  hadn't  time  to  choose. 

HYNE. 

Well,  then,  why  don't  you  go  on  with  the  ship  to  Ja 
maica?  That's  a  healthy  place. 

JIM. 

I — I'm  afraid  it  wouldn't  be  healthy  for  Mr.  Steve. 
You  see,  there's  a  cable  to  Jamaica. 

[10] 


THE   DICTATOR 

HYNE. 

Yes,  and  there's  a  wireless  to  Porto  Banos. 

JIM. 

(Ingratiatingly.}  Ah!  But  if  you  got  messages  disturb 
ing  Mr.  Steve,  niaybe  you'd  let  him  know? 

HYNE. 
What? 

JIM. 

(Hurriedly,}  I  mean  that  the  doctor  wants  him  to  rest, 
he  wants  him  to  get  away  from  cables  and  Wall  Street 
reports,  and — 

HYNE. 
Oh,  we  carry  a  lot  of  that  trade! 

JIM. 

I  beg  your  pardon? 

HYNE. 

I  say,  we  carry  a  lot  of  passengers  who  leave  New  York 
for  their  health.  (Familiarly.)  Look  here,  why  don't 
you  two  children  put  me  next?  I'm  no  correspondence 
school,  but  if  I  could  meet  you  face  to  face  I  could  help 
you  two.  (JiM  turns  as  though  to  confide  in  HYNE,  and 
then  shakes  his  head.} 

JIM. 

(Sadly.}  No.  But  don't  think  we  don't  appreciate 
your  offer. 

HYNE. 

Oh,  that's  all  right !  I'm  dead  sorry  for  you  two,  you're 
so  helpless.  You're  the  original  babes  in  the  woods, 
that's  what  you  are.  You  two  could  play  Little  Eva  and 
Lord  Fauntleroy  without  making  up. 

[11] 


THE  DICTATOR 

JIM. 

(Fearfully.}     Who's  said  anything  about  us  to  make 

you  think  that 

HYNE. 

(Laughs  scornfully.}  Who?  Why,  you  give  yourselves 
away!  You're  such  amateurs!  Now,  I'm  a  wise  guy. 
I'm  not  like  some  folks.  I  can  tell  where  the  third  rail  is 
without  walking  on  it.  (After  a  pause,  encouragingly.} 
Better  take  mother's  advice. 

JIM. 

(Uncertainly.}  Well — well — Mr.  Steve  told  me  if  I 
was  sure  you  suspected — (HYNE  laughs} — I'll  do  this! 
I'll  tell  you  what  happened  to  two  men  I  know  in  New 
York,  and  you  can  tell  me  what's  likely  to  happen  to 
them  in  Porto  Banos. 

HYNE. 

(Warningly.}  Don't  say  anything  you'll  be  sorry  for 
in  the  morning. 

JIM. 

No!     I'll  be  careful. 

HYNE. 

I  don't  want  your  telephone  number  unless  you  want 
to  give  it,  understand? 

JIM. 

Yes,  I  think  I  do.  (Glances  about  him,  and  then  speaks 
in  a  nervous  whisper.}  A  wreek  ago  in  New  York,  just 
after  midnight,  a  gentleman  with  his  valet  left  his  house  to 
go  aboard  his  yacht  at  the  New  York  Yacht  Club's  wharf 
at  Twenty-third  Street.  They  called  up  a  cab  in  the  street, 
put  their  trunks  on  it,  and  drove  to  the  East  River.  The 
pier  was  dark,  there  was  no  one  about,  so  the  cabman 
soaked  them  ten  dollars  for  the  trip.  The  gentleman 

[12] 


THE   DICTATOR 

refused  to  pay  it,  and  the  cabman  soaked  him.  He  struck 
back,  and  the  cabman  fell — hitting  his  head  on  the  curb 
stone.  Did  you  ever  meet  one  of  those  New  York  curb 
stones  ? 

HYNE. 

(Nods  impatiently.)     Go  on. 

JIM. 

Then  you  can  imagine  what  happened  to  that  cabman's 
head. 

HYNE. 
Gee! 

JIM. 

A  crowd  of  roughs  collected  and  accused  the  gentleman 
of  trying  to  murder  the  cabman.  Then  the  ambulance 
surgeon  came,  and  he  said  the  cabman  could  live  only 
a  very  short  time,  and  advised  these  men  to  leave  the 
country  in  an  even  shorter  time.  They  took  his  advice, 
and  the  cab  with  the  trunks  on  it,  and  galloped  to  the 
wharf  of  the  Red  C  Line — where  this  ship  was  bound 
for  Central  America.  They  didn't  care  where  she  was 
bound  for,  so  long  as  she — bounded.  Now  they  have 
arrived  at  Porto  Banos,  and  this  is  where  you  could 
assist  them.  (Earnestly)  Is  there  an  extradition  treaty 
between  the  United  States  and  this  Republic,  and  if  these 
men  go  on  shore  can  they  be  dragged  back  to  New  York  ? 

HYNE. 

I  don't  know  about  this  Republic,  but  I'll  bet  you  after 
you've  been  in  Porto  Banos  a  couple  of  hours  you  \von't 
need  an  extradition  treaty  to  get  you  to  go  home  again. 

JIM. 
But  is  there  a  treaty? 

[13] 


THE   DICTATOR 

HYNE. 

I  don't  know. 

JIM. 
Well,  who  would  know? 

HYNE. 

Why,  Colonel  Bowie. 

JIM. 
The  Consul  ? 

HYNE. 

Well,  he's  going  to  be  the  Consul.  He's  never  been 
here  before,  but  he's  lived  in  every  other  Republic  in 
Central  America,  and  he  must  know  all  about  this  one, 
or  he  wouldn't  have  pulled  wires  so  hard  to  get  this 
consular  job.  He's  the  man  to  ask. 

(STEWARD  enters  right,  and  salutes  HYNE.) 

STEWARD. 

Mr.  Hyne,  the  Captain  says  to  tell  you  the  Health 
Officer  is  leaving  the  wharf. 

HYNE. 

All  right.  Ask  the  ship's  doctor  to  have  his  health  bill 
ready  for  me. 

STEWARD. 

Yes,  sir.     (Goes  off  left.) 

HYNE. 

There's  more  work  to  do!  Come  and  have  a  drink 
with  the  Health  Officer  and  me.  (Moves  left.  COLONEL 
BOWIE  with  MRS.  BowriE  on  his  left  arm  enters  from  above 
cabin.  They  stand  at  the  rail  while  he  points  out  to  her 
the  features  of  Porto  Banos.  He  is  a  tall,  important-look 
ing  man,  with  a  low-crowned  Panama  hat,  black  goatee,  and 

[14] 


THE   DICTATOR 


gray  frock  coat.  At  times  his  manner  is  that  of  a  political 
demagogue  and  again  that  of  a  sharp  rascal.  MRS.  BOWIE 
is  i/oung,  pretty,  and  silly.  She  is  overdressed  in  what 
obviously  is  part  of  the  trousseau  of  a  bride.} 

JIM. 

(Peevishly.)  No,  I  just  said  I  wouldn't  drink.  You 
drink  more  than  a  man  should. 

HYNE. 

But  not  more  than  three  men  should.  I'm  the  doctor 
now.  It  was  the  purser  got  that  last  drink.  (Turns  and 
discovers  BOWIE.)  There's  the  Consul.  Now,  my  advice 
to  your  two  friends  is  that  you  ask  him  about  that  extradi 
tion  law. 

JIM. 

(Frightened.)  No — not  while  his  wife's  with  him — and 
I've  got  to  call  Mr.  Steve  at  four  bells. 

HYNE. 

You've  plenty  of  time.  Come  with  me,  and  I'll  intro 
duce  you  to  the  Health  Officer.  You  can  ask  him  about 
that  extradition. 

JIM. 

(Terrified.)  But  we  mustn't  ask  everybody.  They'll 
wonder  why  we  want  to  know. 

HYNE. 

Not  in  this  country.  It's  the  first  question  every  Amer 
ican  asks.  (Leads  JIM  off  left.  CAPTAIN  enters  below 
smoking  room,  looks  after  JIM,  scowling.) 

BOWIE. 

Ah,  Captain. 

[15] 


THE  DICTATOR 


CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Good  morning,  Mr.  Consul.  Good  morning,  Mrs. 
Bowie. 

BOWIE. 

(Pompously.}  My  dear,  thank  the  Captain  who  brought 
us  safely  through  the  perils  of  the  deep  to  our  new  home. 
I  congratulate  you,  Captain.  You  carried  a  precious 
cargo. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

No,  this  trip  mostly  hardware. 

BOWIE. 

The  precious  cargo  to  which  I  referred,  Captain,  was 
my  young  bride. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Oh,  excuse  me,  marm!  An'  how  do  you  think  you'll 
like  your  new  home,  Mrs.  Bowie?  That's  it!  (Points 
to  Porto  Banos.)  The  consulate  is  part  of  that  hotel. 

MRS.  BOWIE. 

Well,  I've  made  up  my  mind  to  like  whatever  my  hus 
band  likes.  Haven't  I,  John? 

BOWIE. 
Yes,  dear. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

That's  right!    I  guess,  Consul,  it's  no  new  home  to  you  ? 

BOWIE. 
Well,  it  is,  and  it  isn't.     I've  never  been  here  before 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

No? 

[16] 


THE  DICTATOR 


BOWIE. 


No,  but  for  the  last  ten  years  I've  lived  in  every  other 
Republic  in  Central  America,  and  I  feel  at  home  in  any 
of  'em. 


CAPT.    CODMAN. 

Just  so!  But  I  should  have  thought  you'd  have  got  a 
consulship  in  a  place  where  you  were  acquainted  already — 
been  more  sociable  for  Mrs.  Bowie. 

BOWIE. 

Yes,  but  between  ourselves,  Captain,  a  Consul  must 
keep  clear  of  local  politics,  and  wherever  I've  been  in 
Central  America  I've  prominently  identified  myself  with 
one  or  the  other  of  the  political  parties.  I  was  against 
the  government  in  Guatemala,  in  Costa  Rica  I  was  with 
it.  In  Salvadore  I  was  the  government. 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

You  don't  say? 

BOWIE. 

Yes,  I've  been  mixed  up  in  the  revolutions  of  every 
Republic  in  Central  America. 

MRS.  BOWIE. 
(Quickly.)     Except  this  one,  John 

BOWIE. 

Yes,  of  course,  except  this  one.  So  when  the  State  De 
partment  begged  me  to  represent  my  country  in  a  diplo 
matic  post,  I  chose  Porto  Banos  because  there  I  have  no 
interest — except  to  serve  that  flag.  (Raises  his  hat  and 
looks  up  apparently  at  the  mast  head.) 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

(Thoughtfully).     Quite  so!  quite  so!    I  guess  you  must 
[17] 


THE  DICTATOR 

be  the  Colonel  Bowie  who — why,  this  very  ship  once  car 
ried  a  cargo  of  rifles  for  you  to — 

BOWIE. 
(Airily.)     Very  likely!  very  likely! 

CAPT.    CODMAN. 

I  see!  Well,  Consul,  I  think  you're  quite  right  to  come 
to  a  place  where  you  start  with  a  clean  ticket,  where  you 
haven't  plotted  to  upset  their  little  government.  (To  MRS. 
BOWIE.)  Excuse  me,  I'll  see  you  before  you  leave  the 
ship.  (Pie  goes  off.  There  is  a  pause,  during  which  MR. 
and  MRS.  BOWIE  look  at  each  other,  smiling.) 

MRS.  BOWIE. 

John,  I'm  glad — I'm  glad  you  didn't  "plot  to  upset 
their  little  government."  (They  both  laugh  knowingly.) 

BOWIE. 

Yes,  that  would  have  been  mean  of  me,  wouldn't  it? 
(Points  at  Porto  Banos,  speaking  grandiloquently.)  Julia, 
there  is  my  wedding  gift  to  you.  You  are  mistress  of  all 
you  survey. 

MRS.    BOWIE. 

Oh,  John!  And  my  friends  thought  I  was  doing  so 
well  to  marry  an  American  Consul. 

BOWIE. 

Hah!  what's  a  Consul  in  San  Manana  compared  to 
the  Dictator  of  San  Manana?  Julia,  you  will  be  the  first 
lady  of  the  land ! 

MRS.    BOWIE. 

My,  that  sounds  nice!  Will  my  social  position  be  higher 
than  that  of  the  wife  of  the  President  of  San  Manana '; 

[18] 


THE   DICTATOR 

BOWIE. 

Than  Rivas's  wife?     Who  made  Rivas  President? 

MRS.    BOWIE. 

You  did,  John. 

BOWIE. 
And  who  can  unmake  Rivas? 

MRS.    BOWIE. 

(Admiringly.)     I  guess  you  can,  John. 

BOWIE. 

Then  his  wife  had  better  keep  her  place — or  he'll  lose 
his.  I  found  Pedro  Rivas  in  New  York.  Sent  him  back 
to  his  country — and  made  him  President.  My  brains. 
My  money.  They  (nods  toward  the  shore)  think  I'm 
only  the  new  American  Consul,  but  when  they  go  to 
Rivas  for  a  concession,  he'll  say,  "Have  you  seen  Bowie? " 
I'm  Dictator  of  that  Republic  and  he  knows  it.  I'm  the 
king-maker,  the  Warwick,  the  man  behind  the  throne. 
Pedro  Rivas  can  be  President,  but  Col.  John  T.  Bowie  is 
Boss. 

MRS.    BOWIE. 

Oh,  John,  but  you  do  talk  elegant!  I'm  glad  you're 
boss,  and  I'm  glad  we've  corne  to  boss  a  country  where 
they  don't  know  you. 

BOWIE. 

(Dryly.)     So  am  I.     But  why  are  you  glad? 
MRS.  BOWIE. 

Oh,  John,  I'm  just  jealous  of  the  people  you  knew  down 
here  before  you  met  me.  Those  beautiful  senoritas — 

BOWIE. 

(Warningly.)     Now,  Julia — 
[19] 


THE   DICTATOR 


MKS.    BOWIE. 


(Pouting.)  Well,  I  can't  help  it.  I  can't  forget  that 
Panama  widow — Juanita  something. 

BOWIE. 

Now,  Julia,  why  should  you  be  jealous  of  a  woman  I 
ran  away  from — in  order  to  marry  you  ? 

MRS.  BOWIE. 

Well,  I  am  jealous — and  I  don't  like  those  you've  met 
since  you  married  me  either.  I  don't  like  that  missionary 
girl. 

BOWIE. 

(Wearily.)  Who  is  it  now  ?  Miss  Sheridan — the  young 
lady  that  came  down  with  us ? 

MRS.  BOWIE. 

I  just  hate  her.  I  don't  think  a  nice  girl  would  travel 
alone,  even  if  she  is  going  to  marry  a  missionary. 

BOWIE. 

Why,  she's  under  the  Captain's  care  on  board,  and  on 
shore  she's — 

MRS.  BOWIE. 
Under  your  care,  yes. 

BOWIE. 

Well,  the  Board  of  Missionaries  put  her  in  charge  of 
the  Consul.  I  didn't.  (The  bell  of  a  launch  sounds  off 
at  upper  right.  BOWIE  goes  up  and  looks  over  the  rail.) 

MRS.  BOWIE. 

That  girl  has  just  spoiled  my  trip.  If  she  wanted  to 
save  the  heathen,  why  didn't  she  stay  in  New  York.  And 

[20] 


THE  DICTATOR 

the  way  she's  been  carrying  on  with  that  Mr.  Steve  is 
shocking.  (HYNE  and  JIM  enter  and  halt  at  corner  of 
cabin.) 

BOWIE. 

Well,  she  hasn't  been  carrying  on  with  me.  (To  HYNE.) 
My,  Hyne,  who  is  that  in  the  launch? 

HYNE. 

Health  Officer.  (To  JIM.)  Are  you  going  to  ask  him 
now  ? 

JIM. 

No,  I  am  going  to  wake  Mr.  Steve;  maybe  he'd  rather 
ask  Bowie  himself. 

HYNE. 
All  right,  suit  yourself.      (Goes  off  upper  right,) 

MRS.  BOWIE. 

(In  a  whisper.  Looking  over  rail.)  Is  that  one  of 
your  men,  John? 

BOWIE. 

I  can't  tell  until  he  gives  me  the  sign.     Let's  go  find  out. 

MRS.  BOWIE. 
He  doesn't  knowr  you're  his  boss,  does  he? 

BOWIE. 

Not  yet.  But  if  there's  any  graft  in  being  a  Health 
Officer,  he  soon  will.  (They  go  off  behind  smoking  room. 
JIM  looks  after  them,  glances  cautiously  about  the  deck, 
and  then  knocks  on  window  of  cabin.} 

JIM. 

Mr.  Travers!     Mr.  Travers!     (STEVE  enters  from  door 

[21] 


THE   DICTATOR 

of  cabin.  He  is  an  alert  young  man  of  twenty-five,  wear 
ing  white-duck  trousers  and  the  coat  and  cap  of  the  New 
York  Yacht  Club.) 


(Sharply.)     I  told  you  not  to  say  Mr.  Travers,  but  to 
call  me  "Steve." 


JIM. 
Yes,  Mr.  Steve. 

STEVE. 


And  I  told  you  not  to  call  me  till  we  got  to  Porto  Banos. 

JIM. 
But  we're  there,  sir!     This  is  Porto  Banos. 

STEVE. 

(Eagerly.)     Is  it?     What's  it  like?     Is  it — is  it  the  sort 
of  place  I'd  select  to  spend  the  rest  of  my  life  in? 

JIM. 
I  can't  say,  sir. 

STEVE. 

Well,  don't  say  "sir."     I  told  you  not  to  say  "sir." 

JIM. 
No,  sir. 

STEVE. 

Now  listen !     Do  you  want  to  be  hanged  ? 

JIM. 
No,  Mr.  Travers. 

STEVE. 
(Correcting  him.)     No,  "  Steve." 

JIM. 

(Respectfully.)     No — Steve. 
[22] 


THE   DICTATOR 


Don't  say  it  that  way;  say  it  as  though  you  meant  it.  I 
ask  you,  "Do  you  want  to  get  hanged?"  And  you  say, 
"No,  Steve."  Say  "No,  Steve,"  cheerfully.  Don't  be 
afraid  of  it.  "  No,  Steve,"  like  that.  (Slaps  him  on  the 
back.)  Like  that !  You  don't  want  to  be  hanged,  do  you  ? 

JIM. 

No — Steve  ? 

STEVE. 

Cheerfully.  Slap  me  on  the  back,  go  on !  (JiM  timidly 
taps  STEVE  on  the  shoulder.} 

JIM. 

No,  Steve. 

STEVE. 

That's  better.  Now  listen!  I'm  sorry  you  had  to  come 
here,  but  it  was  for  your  good  as  well  as  mine.  If  I'd  left 
you  behind  you'd  have  gone  to  jail,  and  I — I'd  have  had  to 
clean  my  own  boots.  And  shave  myself.  I  can't  shave 
myself,  can  I? 

JIM. 
No,  sir.     No- — Steve. 

STEVE. 

I  can't  sharpen  razors,  nor — nor  do  any  of  those  things 
you're  so  clever  at.  I've  got  to  have  a  valet.  But  people 
mustn't  know  you're  a  valet.  That  would  identify  both 
of  us.  "Wanted  by  the  New  York  Police,"  that's  the 
way  it  probably  reads:  "Mr.  Brooke  Travers  and  Valet." 
Why,  Simpson — 

JIM. 

(Correcting  him.)     "Jim." 

STEVE. 

Thank   you.     (Takes   JIM'S   arm   and   walks  across  to 

[23] 


THE   DICTATOR 


right.}  Now  please  remember,  Jim,  that  I'm  your  old 
college  friend  Stephen  Hill.  Steve!  Good  old  Steve! 
And  you're  just  as  good  as  I  am — and  when  anybody's 
about — you're  better.  (Stops.)  I^xcept  when  Miss  Sheri 
dan's  about,  and  then,  you're  not  to  be  about. 


JIM. 


(Gloomily.)  Yes,  Steve.  (STEVE  turns — JIM  corrects 
himself  and  in  a  jaunty  manner  takes  STEVE  by  the  arm.) 
Yes,  Steve. 


That's  right.  Now  then  bring  on  your  Porto  Banos. 
(Turns  and  looks  toward  the  land.)  Is  that  it? 

JIM. 

Yes,  sir.     The  purser  says  it  looks  much  better  at  night. 
STEVE. 

I  should  think  it  might  on  a  dark  night.  However,  it's 
any  port  in  a  storm  with  us.  Did  you  find  out  if  what  the 
man  said  about  the  extradition  law  was  true? 

JIM. 

Not  yet,  sir,  the  purser  told  me  to  ask  Colonel  Bowie, 
the  Consul. 

STEVE. 

(Thoughtfully.)  Bowie.  Yes,  he'd  know,  but  he'd 
suspect.  He  talks  like  a  fool,  but  he's  no  fool.  He's  a 
rascal.  Still,  it's  all  the  better  for  us  that  he  is  a  rascal. 
Now  the  Consul  will  have  more  to  say  about  extraditing 
us  than  anybody  else  and  we've  got  to  make  it  worth  his 
while  not  to  say  it.  We  will  be  the  geese  that  lay  the  golden 
eggs  for  the  Consul,  and  he  mustn't  kill  the  geese. 

JIM. 
Yes,  sir. 

[24] 


THE   DICTATOR 


STEVE. 


(Turning  on  him.)  "Yes,  sir,"  and  you  don't  know 
what  I  mean  at  all. 

JIM. 
No,  sir. 

STEVE. 

I  mean  that  every  week  that  we  remain  free  he  gets  his 
gold,  but  that  if  he  lets  them  take  us  back  to  the  United 
States — he  loses  his  gold.  Now  you  go  tell  Bowie — tell 
him  everything,  he's  the  only  one  can  help  us.  Do  you 
understand  ? 

JIM. 

Yes,  sir. 

(Two  STEWARDS  cross  from  upper  left  to  upper  right  car 
rying  between  them  a  cabin  trunk.  LUCY  SHEEIDAN  enters 
upper  left,  adjusting  a  marine  binocular.  She  raises  it  to 
her  eyes  and  stands  at  the  rail  looking  off.  She  is  an 
attractive  girl,  in  a  white  skirt,  shirt  waist,  and  stock,  and 
with  a  puggaree  around  a  man's  gray  sombrero.) 

JIM. 
(Sees  LUCY.)     Be  careful,  sir. 

STEVE. 

Who  is  it? 

JIM. 

(In  a  whisper.)     Miss  Sheridan. 

STEVE. 

Look  out.  (Aloud.)  No,  Jim,  old  man,  let  me  pack 
the  trunks  this  time,  let  me  pack  the  trunks.  (LucY, 
hearing  voices,  turns  and  comes  down.)  Go  on. 

JIM. 
(With  hysterical  gayety.)     No — Steve,  I  couldn't  think 

[25] 


THE  DICTATOR 

of  it.     No,  no,  old — old  chappie.     (Gives  him  pokes  in 
ribs.) 

STEVE. 

(Aside.)  That's  good,  that's  all  right.  (Aloud.)  No,  I 
insist,  I'll  toss  you  for  it.  (Takes  out  a  half  a  dollar.) 
What?  Miss  Sheridan?  (Turns  to  her.)  Oh,  good 
morning,  Miss  Sheridan. 

LUCY. 
Good  morning.     (She  nods  to  JIM,  he  bows.) 

STEVE. 

We  were  just  quarreling  over  who  would  pack  the 
trunks.  Jim  is  so  unselfish.  He  always  wants  to  pack 
the  trunks.  But  I'm  unselfish  too,  so  we're  going  to  toss 
for  it.  (To  JIM.)  Heads  or  tails. 

JIM. 
Heads. 

STEVE. 

Tails,  it  is.  You  lose.  You  pack  the  trunks.  Isn't  it 
funny  how  you  always  lose?  (Aside.)  Go  tell  Bowie. 
Tell  him  everything.  He's  the  only  man  who  can  save 
us. 

JIM. 

Yes,  sir.  (He  exits  upper  right.  LUCY  and  STEVE, 
appreciating  that  they  soon  are  to  separate,  approach  each 
other  with  mutual  embarrassment.) 

STEVE. 

Well? 

LUCY. 

Well? 

STEVE. 

(Mournfully.)     Well,  here  we  are.     I'm  glad. 

[26] 


THE  DICTATOR 

LUCY. 

(Sadly.)     So  am  I. 

STEVE. 

(Trying  to  appear  at  ease.)  I've  never  seen  Porto 
Banos.  I've  seen  every  other  foreign  port  in  the  world, 
Naples  and — Naples,  but  I've  never  seen  Porto  Banos. 
Of  course  it's  different  with  you.  I  travel  for  pleasure. 
That's  why  I  came  to  Porto  Banos.  But  you  must  go 
where  duty  calls  you.  How  many  little  heathen  are  there 
in  Porto  Banos? 

LUCY. 

(Wearily  turning  away.)  Oh,  please  don't  joke  about 
it!  I  don't— I  don't  feel  very  gay  this  morning.  I'm 
afraid  I'm  a  little  homesick. 

STEVE. 

Oh,  I'm  sorry!  But  you'll  soon  get  over  that.  (Resent 
fully-)  You'll  soon  make  this  place  your  home.  And  in 
a  few  minutes  Mr.  -  — ,  I  never  can  remember  the  name 
of  that  young  man  you  are  going  to  marry. 

LUCY. 
Mr.  Bostick. 

STEVE. 

Bostick,  of  course.  He'll  be  coming  out  in  a  few  min 
utes  now,  and  that  will  be  one  friendly  face  to  greet  you. 
No  one's  coming  out  to  meet  me.  (He  turns  hastily,  and 
gazes  with  alarm  toward  the  wharf.)  At  least,  I  hope  not. 
(STEWARD  enters.) 

STEWARD. 

(Saluting  LUCY.)  Beg  pardon,  Miss,  Health  Officer  says 
passengers  can  go  ashore,  now.  The  boat's  waiting. 

LUCY. 
Thanks. 

[27] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEWARD. 

(To  STEVE.)     Your  cabin  pieces  ready,  sir? 

STEVE. 
I  don't  know.     Ask  my — ask  Mr.  Jim. 

STEWARD. 

Yes,  sir.     Have  you  seen  the  Boots,  sir? 

STEVE. 

No,  I  haven't  seen  any  boots.  Has  somebody  lost  his 
boots? 

STEWARD. 

I'm  the  "  Boots,"  sir;  I'm  the  man  that  cleans  the  boots. 

STEVE. 

(Gives  him  money.)  You  mean  you're  the  man  that 
doesn't  clean  the  boots.  Now,  go  tell  the  Captain  to  come 
here.  I  want  to  tip  him,  too.  (STEWARD  exits.)  I've 
tipped  every  other  man  on  board  this  boat,  and  if  I  didn't 
tip  him,  it  would  hurt  his  feelings.  (Turning  to  LUCY.) 
What  sort  of  a  chap  is  Bostick — I  mean,  of  course,  he's  a 
bully  fine  fellow  or  you  wouldn't  marry  him.  But  I  mean 
is  he  a  sort  of  a  sport,  or  is  he  a  serious  chap — some  of 
those  missionaries,  you  know,  rather  go  in  for  being 
serious. 

LUCY. 

Yes,  he's  serious,  and  Mr.  Bostick  is  very  good. 

STEVE. 
(Encouragingly.)     Yes,  and ? 

LUCY. 
And  very  earnest. 

[28] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Oh,  that's  where  I'm  weak.  I'm  terribly  shy  on  ear' 
nestness.  And — and — what  else — about  Bostick? 

LUCY. 
That's  all.     I  don't  know  Mr.  Bostick  very  well. 

STEVE. 
You  don't  know  him  very  well! 

LUCY. 

He  wrote  to  the  Board  of  Missions  that  he  thought  his 
influence  with  the  Carib  Indians  would  be  greater  if  he 
were  a  married  man. 

STEVE. 

Well? 

LUCY. 

So  when  he  came  North  they  called  for  volunteers 
among  the  young  girls  who  wished  to  be  missionaries, 
and  Mr.  Bostick  and  I  met,  and  talked  it  over,  and  found 
we  were  in  sympathy,  and  so  I  have  come  down  to  marry 
him.  (There  is  a  pause.) 

STEVE. 

See  here,  my  dear  young  lady,  don't  you  think  you  are 
taking  pretty  big  chances?  Of  course,  it's  none  of  my 
business — 

LUCY. 

(Severely.)     As  you  say,  it  is  none  of  your   business. 

STEVE. 

That's  what  I  said,  I  said  it  was  none  of  my  business, 
but  if  you're  looking  for  a  heathen  to  save,  you  needn't 
marry  a  man  you  don't  know,  nor  climb  those  mountains 

[29] 


THE   DICTATOR 

to  find  him.  Look  at  me!  Look  at  the  good  you've  done 
me.  Just  on  this  trip!  I'm  a  better  man  for  it.  My 
dear  Miss  Sheridan,  I  don't  want  to  interfere  with  your 
matrimonial  engagements,  but  I  hate  to  see  a  nice  girl 
bury  herself  for  life  in  a  Central  American  banana  patch. 
Nice  girls  are  very  few,  and  they're  getting  married  to  some 
other  fellow  every  day.  A  nice  girl  could  do  wonders  with 
me.  She  could  save  me. 

LUCY. 

(Turning  and  smiling  at  him.}  I  ought  to  be  angry 
with  you,  but  I'm  not — because  you  are  not  serious — you 
never  are  serious. 

STEVE. 

But  I  am  serious.  Don't  you  think  I'm  worth  saving? 
(DUFFY  enters  from  left.  Through  LUCY'S  next  speech  he 
tries  to  attract  the  attention  of  LUCY  and  STEVE  by  hissing 
at  them.  He  is  a  stupid,  fatuous,  self-important  person, 
with  an  air  of  mystery.  He  is  heavily  built,  and  his 
mustache  is  black.  He  wears  a  suit  of  ready-made  imita 
tion  tweed,  a  gray  alpine  hat  with  a  black  band  and  the 
rim  pulled  down  in  front.) 

LUCY. 

What  is  there  to  save  you  from — except  yourself?  You 
have  everything.  What  is  there  to  save  you  from  ? 

DUFFY. 

Hist!  Hist!  (STEVE  and  LUCY  turn  and  discover 
DUFFY.) 

STEVE. 

(Points  at  DUFFY.)  Well,  you  might  save  me  from 
that! 

DUFFY. 

Hush!  Don't  tell  anybody.  (In  a  very  loud  voice.)  I 
am  a  secret-service  detective. 

[30] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

(Terrified.)     You're  a  what?     What  does  he  say  he  is? 

DUFFY. 

I'm  a  secret-service  detective.  I  was  in  Porto  Rico  on 
government  business.  They  cabled  me  from  New  York 
to  come  here.  Do  you  doubt  it  ?  (Reaches  inside  the  arm- 
hole  of  his  waistcoat.)  Do  you  want  to  see  my  badge? 

STEVE. 

(Violently.)  No,  I  don't  want  to  see  your  badge.  Take 
your  badge  away.  Do  you  want  to  frighten  the  lady? 
(To  LUCY,  who  is  amused  by  DUFFY'S  manner.)  What  are 
you  frightened  about?  What's  the  use  of  being  fright 
ened?  If  you  have  a  clear  conscience,  you  needn't — 
(To  DUFFY.)  What  do  you  want? 

DUFFY. 

I  want  you  to  assist  me — in  the  name  of  the  law.  I'm 
looking  for  two  men. 

STEVE. 

(Falling  back.)  Two  men !  Well,  we're  not  two  men, 
man  and  woman.  (Pointing  to  LUCY.)  Woman!  (To 
himself.)  Man!  (To  LUCY.)  The  idea  of  a  secret  cir 
cus — secret  circus!  (Slowly.)  Not  secret  circus — secret- 
service  detective  not  being  able  to  tell  two  men  from  a 
man  and  a  woman.  It's  absurd! 

DUFFY. 
Don't  delay  me!     Wrhere  is  the  Captain  of  this  ship? 

STEVE. 

(With  delight.)  The  Captain.  Oh,  the  Captain !  (Tak 
ing  DUFFY  by  arm  and  leading  him  right.)  I'll  assist 
you  to  find  the  Captain.  (Points  to  lower  right.)  He  is 
right  down  there,  right  along  that  alley  way. 

[31] 


THE   DICTATOR 

DUFFY. 

(Moving  right.}  Thank  you — don't  tell  anybody  I'm 
a  secret-service  detective. 

STEVE. 

Not  for  worlds.  See  that  open  hatch,  the  Captain's 
down  that  hatch.  Jump  down  three  decks — and  turn  to 
the  right.  (Exit  DUFFY.)  (STEVE  turns  excitedly  to  LUCY.) 
Excuse  me,  but  I've  got  to  see  Colonel  Bowie.  (She 
moves  up  stage  left,  he  following.}  This  is  very  serious. 
Somebody  is  going  to  be  arrested.  A  fellow-passenger, 
perhaps  a  fellow-mortal.  You,  you,  go  save  the  heathen, 
but  I  will  save  my  fellow-passengers.  Excuse  me,  won't 
you?  (Shakes  her  hand  absent-mindedly.} 

LUCY. 

Then  this  is  good-by,  or —  (Wistfully.}  Will  I  see  you 
on  shore? 

STEVE. 

(Violently.}  You  bet  you'll  see  me  on  shore.  I'll  be  on 
shore  before  you  are,  if  I  have  to  swim.  (Runs  down  to 
lower  right.) 

LUCY. 
Au  revoir,  then. 

STEVE. 

Don't  mention  it.  (LucY  exits  behind  cabin,  as  JIM 
comes  on  from  behind  smoking  room.)  Did  you  tell  Bowie  ? 

JIM. 
Yes,  sir;  everything. 

STEVE. 
What  did  he  say? 

JIM. 
Said  accidents  would  happen. 

[32] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Did  he  try  to  blackmail  you? 

JIM. 

No,  sir! 

STEVE. 

He  didn't!  Then  he  must  know  7'm  the  one  that's  got 
the  money.  Go  pack  the  trunks,  I'll  fix  him.  (JiM  exits 
into  the  cabin  as  COLONEL  BOWIE  enters  lower  right  ) 

BOWIE. 

Well !  What  can  I  do  for  you  ?  Your  servant  tells 
me — 

STEVE. 

Has  he  told  you  about  those  two  young  men? 

BOWIE. 
Yes;  they're  in  a  pretty  bad  fix. 

STEVE. 

But  he  hasn't  told  you  the  worst.  (BowiE  turns  to  sit. 
STEVE  prevents  him  from  doing  so.)  You  haven't  time  to 
sit  down.  There  is  a  secret-service  detective  here  from 
Porto  Banos.  He  is  trying  to  arrest  those  two  young 
men. 

BOWIE. 
Indeed,  that  is  unfortunate* 

STEVE. 

I  know  that.  You  don't  have  to  tell  me  that.  What  I 
want  to  know  is  this — is  there  any  extradition  treaty  with 
this  country,  and  if  so,  are  you  going  to  allow  these  in 
nocent  young  men  to  be  dragged  back  to  New  York  on  a 
charge  of  murder — and  hanged? 

[33] 


THE   DICTATOR 

BOWIE. 

(Judicially.}     Well,  in  the  first  place — 

STEVE. 

Wait!  Before  you  commit  yourself,  you  ought  to  know 
that  on  the  day  these  two  young  men  fled,  one  of  them  had 
been  to  the  races  and  had  taken  from  the  bookmakers 
twenty-five  thousand  dollars  in  cash — no  credit — cash! 
And  he  has  it  with  him  now.  (He  shows  a  bank-note  case 
filled  with  notes.  BOWIE  regards  it  greedily.}  I  thought 
that  might  have  an  international  bearing  on  the  subject. 

BOWIE. 

You're  right,  it  has!  Well,  there  is  an  extradition  treaty 
with  San  Manana. 

STEVE. 
There  is? 

BOWIE. 
But— 

STEVE. 

(Delightedly.}     But! 

BOWIE. 

But  let  us  suppose  that  the  Consul — before  which  this 
case  must  come — had  met  your  friends  on  the  way  down — 
had  taken  a  fancy  to  them — had  lost  some  five  hundred 
dollars  to  them  at  poker,  for  which  they  held  his  I.  O.  U.'s. 

STEVE. 
Oh,  don't  mention  it. 

BOWIE. 
And  that  he  has  inclined  to  be  their  friend. 

STEVE. 
Good,  old  Bowie! 

[34] 


THE  DICTATOR 

BOWIE. 

In  that  case  he  might  fail  to  recognize  his  friends  as  the 
men  described  in  the  extradition  papers — 

STEVE. 

He  might,  he  could.  (Takes  bundle  of  papers  from  his 
inside  pocket,  and  gives  it  to  BOWIE.)  Allow  me.  Some 
I.  O.  U.'s  of  yours — 

BOWIE. 

(Taking  papers.)  Thank  you.  Now  listen.  I  am  told 
that  the  consulate  is  situated  in  a  wing  of  the  Hotel  del 
Prado.  I  will  furnish  you  with  rooms  in  the  hotel,  so  that 
you  will  be  near  me  in  case  I  have  to  warn  you.  You 
will  pay  the  rent  of  the  rooms  to  me. 

STEVE. 

(Winking.)     I  see. 

BOWIE. 

Five  hundred  dollars  a  week. 

STEVE. 

Five — five  hundred  dollars !  Did  you  ever  think  that  it 
takes  a  long  time  to  earn  five  hundred  dollars? 

BOWIE. 

Did  you  ever  think  that  it  takes  a  long  time  to  serve  a 
life  sentence? 

STEVE. 

You're  right.  Five  hundred  dollars  it  is.  (Counts  on 
his  fingers.)  Five  hundred  into  twenty-five  thousand  goes 
fifty —  Well,  Jim  and  I  are  safe  for  fifty  weeks,  anyway. 

BOWIE. 

(Pompously.)  You  will  be  safe  as  long  as  the  American 
flag  waves  over  the  consulate. 

[35] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

And  you  get  the  rent. 

BOWIE. 

(Looking  cautiously  about.)  Listen!  I  have  more 
power  in  this  country  than  you  suppose.  What  I  can't 
do  for  you  as  Consul,  I'll  do  for  you — as  Dictator.  Do 
you  know  Pedro  Rivas,  "  El  Muerto  "  ? 

STEVE. 

(Putting  his  hand  inside  his  coat.}  Yes,  but  let  me 
give  you  one  of  my  cigars. 

BOWIE. 

He's  not  a  cigar — he's  a  revolutionist.  (Impressively.} 
He  is  known  as  "El  Muerto,  a  killer,  a  slayer  of  men." 

STEVE. 
(Offering  cigar.)     That's  what  this  is — try  it. 

BOWIE. 

Listen!  I  am  the  man  back  of  General  Rivas — he  is 
only  a  uniform,  a  man  of  straw.  He  is  my  cat's-paw. 

STEVE. 
Oh! 

BOWIE. 

Two  weeks  ago  I  made  him  President.  From  New 
York  I  furnished  the  plans,  money,  and  men.  Now  I  am 
here  to  take  my  reward.  In  this  Republic  7  am  the  govern 
ment.  My  word  is  law,  and  you — are  under  my  protection. 
So,  get  your  things  together  and  join  me  on  shore.  And 
if  that  detective  troubles  you  again,  refer  him  to  the 
American  Consul — and  he  will  face  the  Dictator  of  San 
Manana ! 

[36] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Hurrah!  (H e  runs  to  cabin  door.  Calling  into  cabin.) 
Jim !  Jim ! 

JIM. 

(Appearing  at  cabin  ivindow.)     Yes,  sir. 

STEVE. 
Are  my  things  packed? 

JIM. 
Yes,  sir.     Are  we  going  ashore? 

STEVE. 

I  should  say  we  were  going  ashore.  (Impressively.) 
I've  bought  the  protection  of  the  Dictator  of  San  Manana. 

JIM. 
(Whispering.)     Really,  sir.     What's  a  Dictator,  sir? 

STEVE. 

(In  a  whisper.)  I  don't  know,  but — (points  at  BOWIE 
who  is  at  the  rail  tearing  up  the  "/.  O.  U.'s"  and  throwing 
them  into  the  water) — he's  one  of  them  and  I've  bought 
him.  In  New  York — I  think  he'd  be— a  police  captain. 
(Exits  into  cabin.  VASQUEZ,  the  Health  Officer,  enters 
upper  left.  Pie  is  small,  excitable,  dark-skinned,  and  with 
mustache  and  goatee.  He  wears  a  blue  drill  uniform,  with 
much  gold  lace,  and  a  Panama  hat  turned  up  at  one  side 
by  a  cockade.) 

VASQUEZ. 

Hist!  Hist!  (BowiE  turns.  VASQUEZ  with  one  hand 
makes  a  sign  in  the  air.) 

BOWIE. 

At  last!  (He  makes  the  same  sign  with  his  right  hand. 
VASQUEZ  repeats.)  Viva,  Rivas! 

[37] 


THE   DICTATOR 

VASQUEZ. 

Viva,  Rivas! 

BOWIE. 
Good! 

VASQUEZ. 

You  are  Colonel  Bowie,  the  American  Consul  ? 

BOWIE. 
Yes. 

VASQUEZ. 

(In  a  cautious  whisper.]  I  am  Vasquez,  the  Health 
Officer — General  Rivas  sent  me  to  meet  you. 

BOWIE. 

(Loudly  and  angrily.}  Well,  you  go  back  to  General 
Rivas  and  tell  him  to  send  three  generals  of  the  army  to 
meet  me,  not  a  two-spot  Health  Officer.  (With  increasing 
anger.}  Tell  General  Rivas  to  come  here  himself. 

VASQUEZ. 

(In  amazement.}  To  come  himself?  Ah!  they  have 
not  told  you  of  the  revolution. 

BOWIE. 

(Scornfully.}  Told  me  of  the  revolution?  Why,  I 
made  the  revolution. 

VASQUEZ. 

Yes,  two  weeks  ago,  but  not  last  Tuesday! 

BOWIE. 

Last  Tuesday! 

VASQUEZ. 

Last   Tuesday    General    Campos,    with    five   thousand 
dollars,  defeated  Rivas  in  a  great  battle.     Five  privates 
were  wounded  and  twenty-three  generals. 
*  [38] 


THE   DICTATOR 

BOWIE. 

Defeated !     And  where  is  Ri vas  now  ? 

VASQUEZ. 
(Pointing  over  the  rail.)     There! 

BOWIE. 

Drowned  ? 

VASQUEZ. 

No,  in  the  fortress,  in  the  dungeon  below  the  sea  wall. 
The  water  drips  upon  him  through  the  stones.  And  the 
cell  next  to  his  is  being  kept  wet — for  you. 

BOWIE. 
For  me? 

VASQUEZ. 

For  you.  Campos  knows  you  are  the  man  who  sent 
Rivas  against  him — 

BOWIE. 

Well,  then,  he  also  knows  that  I  am  the  American  Con 
sul—and  he  doesn't  dare  touch  me. 

VASQUEZ. 

Ah!  but  you  are  not  yet — the  American  Consul. 
BOWIE. 

(Producing  official  looking  envelope.)  There  are  my 
credentials  to  prove  it. 

VASQUEZ. 

But  President  Campos  will  not  receive  them.  If  you 
put  your  foot  on  that  wharf,  you  are  only  a  private  citizen 
and  he  will  shoot  you  against  the  wall.  He  has  promised 
it — to  the  people.  (BowiE  seizes  VASQUEZ  by  the  throat 
and  shakes  him.} 

[39] 


THE   DICTATOR 


BOWIE. 

You  little  devil!  I  don't  believe  you!  I  don't  believe 
you! 

VASQUEZ. 

You  don't  believe  me!  And  I  have  risked  my  life  to 
tell  you!  Ah!  (Turns  and  points  toward  the  city  of 
Porto  Banos.)  Look!  Do  you  see  in  any  place  the  blue 
flag  of  Rivas  ?  No,  not  one !  On  the  palace,  on  the 
fortress,  on  every  house  in  Porto  Banos,  you  see  the  yellow 
flag  of  Campos,  the  yellow  flag  of  Campos.  (BowiE  turns 
and  looks  at  the  town,  then  throws  up  his  arms  with  a 
gesture  of  despair.) 

BOWIE. 

The  game's  up!  They've  robbed  me!  They've  ruined 
me!  (BowiE  comes  doivn  left.  The  cabin  door  opens  and 
STEVE  backs  upon  the  stage,  holding  one  end  of  a  steamer 
trunk,  while  the  other  end  is  held  by  JIM.  At  si g Jit  of 
VASQUEZ  he  drops  his  end  of  the  trunk.  He  addresses 
BOWIE,  pointing  at  VASQUEZ.)  Who's  he,  Steve?  Is  he 
all  right? 

BOWIE. 

(Roughly.)  Yes — he's  all  right!  (Aside  to  VASQUEZ.) 
Not  a  word  to  him. 

VASQUEZ. 

No,  sefior.  (STEVE  advances,  leaving  JIM  in  front  of 
cabin.) 

STEVE. 

(Going  up  to  BOWIE,  cheerfully.}  Well,  Colonel,  when 
do  we  go  ashore? 

BOWIE. 

(Pacing  angrily  up  and  down.)     Never! 
[401 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

(Keeping  step  with  him.)     Never! 

BOWIE. 

I've  changed  my  mind. 

STEVE. 

Changed  your  mind? 

BOWIE. 
I'm  going  to  Jamaica. 

STEVE. 

(Furiously.)  See  here,  you  can't  change  your  mind. 
You  can't  go  to  Jamaica.  You're  not  Consul  to  Jamaica. 
Who's  going  to  protect  me?  I  can't  go  to  Jamaica. 

BOWIE. 

I'm  not  Consul  anywhere  until  I  present  these  papers, 
and  I  don't  mean  to  present  them.  (Holds  envelope 
forward.)  I  don't  want  to  die! 

STEVE. 

Die! 

BOWIE. 

(Sloicly,  as  he  formulates  his  excuse.)  Yes,  die !  (Glances 
warningly  at  VASQUEZ.)  I'm  willing  to  die  for  my  country 
at  my  post  of  duty,  but  my  young  bride  shall  not  be 
sacrificed.  This  is  the  Health  Officer  of  the  port.  He  has 
•nine  out  to  warn  the  passengers  not  to  go  on  shore.  He 
tells  us  that  the  town  is  rotten  with  yellow  fever. 

STEVE. 
Yellow  fever!     (To  YASQUEZ.)     Is  that  true? 

BOWIE. 

True!  Look  for  yourself!  (Points.)  Every  house  in 
I'orto  Banos  has  a  yellow-fever  flag. 

[41] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Well,  what's  yellow  fever?  I'd  rather  take  my  chance 
with  yellow  fever  than  be  hanged.  You  can't  desert  your 
post.  You  can't  desert  me.  If  it's  a  question  of  a  few 
thousand  dollars — 

BOWIE. 

(Wildly.)  Thousand  dollars!  It's  a  question  of  life 
and  death. 

STEVE. 

Well,  it's  a  question  of  life  and  death  with  me.  You 
can  go  to  Jamaica.  But  the  only  place  where  I'm  safe  is 
in  that  consulate,  and  the  only  man  who  can  save  me  is 
the  American  Consul.  (BowiE  gives  a  sudden  start,  and 
turns  with  great  impressiveness  to  VASQUEZ.) 

BOWIE. 
Doctor,  my  wife  is  afraid  of  your  yellow  fever! 

VASQUEZ. 
Yes,  senor. 

BOWIE. 

We  have  been  married  only  a  week. 

VASQUEZ. 
(Sympathetically.)     Yes,  senor. 

BOWIE. 

But  that  young  man  has  no  wife,  and  he  isn't  afraid  of 
yellow  fever.  Have  you  ever  seen  him  in  Porto  Banos  ? 

VASQUEZ. 

No,  senor. 

BOWIE. 

Have  you  ever  seen  me  in  Porto  Banos? 
[42] 


THE   DICTATOR 

VASQUEZ. 

No,  senor. 

BOWIE. 

Does  anybody  know  me  in  Porto  Banos?     (He  scowls 

threateningly  at  VASQUEZ.) 

VASQUEZ. 

(Faintly.}     No — o — senor. 

BOWIE. 

(Turns  to  STEVE  and  gives  him  the  Consuls  credentials.} 
Go  to  the  consulate,  where  you  are  safe,  and  serve  your 
country  as  Colonel  John  T.  Bowie,  American  Consul — 

STEVE. 
(With  delight.)     Do  you  mean  it? 

BOWIE. 

I  do!  (Grandiloquently.)  I  give  you  my  high  honors — 
to  save  a  dear  friend's  life. 

STEVE. 

(In  brisk,  business-like  tones,  producing  bank-note  case.} 
How  much  do  you  charge  to  save  a  dear  friend's  life  ? 

BOWIE. 

(With  equal  briskness.)  The  salary  for  four  years,  and 
fees,  would  be  five  thousand  dollars. 

STEVE. 
(Pointing  at  VASQUEZ.)     But  this  man  knows. 

BOWIE. 
He  can  be  fixed. 

STEVE. 

(To  VASQUEZ.)     Can  you  be  fixed? 

[43] 


THE   DICTATOR 

VASQUEZ. 

(Eagerly.}     Yes,  senor. 

STEVE. 

But  there  is  General  Rivas. 

BOWIE. 

Why,  I  made  Rivas.  When  I  met  Pedro  Rivas  he  was 
a  waiter  in  a  Mexican  restaurant  on  Twenty-eighth  Street. 
/  made  him  President  of  San  Manana. 

STEVE. 

Good!  I  guess  I'd  better  see  General  Rivas  as  soon 
as  I'm  landed. 

BOWIE. 

(Impressively.)  I  can  promise  you  as  soon  as  you're 
landed — you  will  see  General  Rivas. 

STEVE. 

Good  again!  (Counts  money.)  Bless  the  bookmakers! 
(To  BOWIE,  handing  money.)  There's  your  graft.  (To 
VASQUEZ,  giving  him  money.)  And  there's  yours.  That 
leaves  me  nineteen  thousand  dollars  to  start  a  new  life 
under  a  new  flag,  and  a  new  name,  as  Colonel  John  T. 
Bowie,  American  Consul  to  Porto  Banos.  Jim,  I  appoint 
you  Vice-Consul. 

JIM. 

Thank  you,  Steve. 

STEVE. 

Not  Steve,  now — Colonel. 

JIM. 
Yes,  Colonel.     WThat  are  the  duties  of  a  Vice-Consul? 

STEVE. 
I  don't  know  the  duties  of  a  Consul  yet.    WV11  go  ashore 

[44] 


THE   DICTATOR 

and  find  out.     (HYNE  enters  briskly  upper  right.     VASQUEZ 
is  down  to  right  of  BOWIE.     HYNE  offers  letter  to  BOWIE.) 


Here's  a  letter  for  you,  Consul.     (BowiE  hesitates  and 
points  to  STEVE.     HYNE  turns  inquiringly  to  STEVE.) 


STEVE. 


(Embarrassed.)  Hyne,  the  Consul  has  resigned  his 
position  as  Consul.  He's  going  to  Jamaica  and  I'm — 
I'm  Acting  Consul  now. 

HYNE. 
Oh! 

STEVE. 

Hyne,  this  steamship  line's  been  using  the  consulate  as 
an  office  for  its  wireless — 

HYNE. 

Yes,  but  I'm  going  to  move  it  right  out. 

STEVE. 

Xo,  don't!  Just  keep  it  where  it  is,  and  if  anything 
comes  over  the  water — that  you  think  I'd  like  to  know — 
you  might  just  mention  it.  My  name  is  Colonel  John  T. 
Bowie  now,  and  your  salary  is  a  hundred  dollars  a  week. 

(About  to  offer  bank  notes.) 

HYNE. 

That's  all  right!  (Waves  away  the  money.)  I'll  call 
you  anything  you  like.  (Hands  letter  to  STEVE  and  moves 
up  right.)  Our  agent  brought  that  on  board.  It's  from 
a  lady  at  the  hotel,  Colonel  Bowie.  (Goes  off  behind 
smoking  room.) 

STEVE. 

(Looking  at  address  on  envelope.)     At  the  hotel?     (To 

[45] 


THE   DICTATOR 

BOWIE.)     You  robber.     You  rascal!     You  told  me  no  one 
knew  you  in  Porto  Banos. 

BOWIE. 

No  one  does,  I  swear  to  Heaven!  I've  never  been 
there.  I  don't  know  what  this  means.  (Takes  letter  and 
looks  at  address;  starts  back  in  terror.)  Juanita! 

STEVE. 
Who's  he? 

BOWIE. 

He  isn't  a  he,  he's  a  she.  It's  a  widow  from  Panama. 
We  were  engaged  to  be  married.  (Glances  about  fear 
fully,  sees  VASQUEZ,  and  moves  STEVE  to  centre.)  Don't 
let  my  wife  know  this.  (Sadly.)  It's  all  up.  We  can't 
fix  Juanita.  (Reluctantly  offers  to  return  the  money  to 
STEVE.) 

STEVE. 

(Hopelessly .)     No  ? 

BOWIE. 
(Firmly.)     Not — Juanita!     Give  me  back  those  papers. 

STEVE. 
(After  consideration.)     I'll  take  my  chances  with  Juanita. 

BOWIE. 

You'd  better  not  take  any  more  chances  with  Juanita 
than  you  have  to.  (Offers  letter.) 

STEVE. 

What's  she  like — Juanita? 

BOWIE. 

They  call  her  the  Star  of  Panama!  (Fervently.)  She's 
the  most  beautiful  woman  under  the  Southern  Cross ! 

[46] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Give  me  that  letter.  (STEVE  takes  letter  and  reads  it 
nloud.)  "Dearest  Jack"-  (To  BOWIE.)  She  calls  me 
Jack,  does  she?  "I  have  heard  of  your  appointment  as 
Consul  to  Porto  Banos,  and  I  have  crossed  the  Isthmus  to 
join  you.  If  you  do  not  keep  your  engagement  to  many 
me 

BOWIE. 

Be  careful !     Don't  let  Mrs.  Bowie  hear  you. 

STEVE. 

What's  Mrs.  Bowie  got  to  do  with  this?  She  hasn't 
promised  to  marry  the  girl — /  have.  I'm  the  one  that's 
got  to  be  careful —  (Reads.)  "  If  you  do  not  keep  your 
engagement  to  marry  me,  I  will  not  sue  you  for  breach  of 
promise,  as  my  sisters  of  the  cold  North  do."  (Smiles.) 
Juanita  is  rather  poetical — "but"-  (STEVE,  while  in 
his  left  hand  he  holds  JUANITA'S  letter — at  which  he  gazes 
in  horror,  with  his  right  hand  offers  to  return  the  credentials 
to  BOWIE.) 

BOWIE. 

What  is  it? 

STEVE. 

(Reads.)  "  But  I  shall  plant  my  dagger  in  your  heart." 
(Explosively.)  I  don't  care  if  Juanita  is  the  most  beauti 
ful  woman  under  all  the  stars!  (He  tries  to  force  the 
credentials  upon  BOWIE.) 

BOWIE. 

(Backing  from  STEVE  and  refusing  the  papers.)  Non 
sense!  Nonsense!  She'll  see  you're  not  the  man  who 
promised  to  marry  her,  and  you  can  tell  her  that  you  are 
the  real  John  T.  Bowie,  and  that  the  first  one  was  an  im 
postor,  that  I  am  an  impostor — a  rascal. 

[47] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Yes,  I  can  tell  her  that.  Come  on,  Jim,  who's  afraid? 
(Turns  to  go  up  centre.  VASQUEZ  rushes  toward  him.) 

VASQUEZ. 

No,  I  cannot  permit  this!  (Offers  bank  notes.)  Take 
back  your  money.  Go  to  Jamaica.  If  you  go  on  shore 
there — (points  to  Porto  Banos) — you  will  surely  die. 

BOWIE. 
(Pushing  him  back.)     Silence,  you  idiot! 

STEVE. 

(Lightly.)  Oh,  thanks!  but  I'm  not  afraid  of  yellow 
fever.  I  rather  like  this  excitement.  I'm  just  beginning 
to  enjoy  myself.  (STEVE  turns  to  upper  right  as  DUFFY 
rushes  on  from  upper  left.  STEVE  recoils  in  terror  upon 
JIM  over  trunk  and  against  ladder.) 

DUFFY. 

(Shouting.)  I'm  a  secret-service  detective.  (To  STEVE.) 
Would  you  like  to  see  my  badge? 

STEVE. 

(Crowding  back  upon  JIM;  trying  to  get  up  ladder,  over 
JIM.)  No,  I  don't  want  to  see  your  badge;  I  told  you  I 
didn't  want  to  see  your  badge. 

DUFFY. 

(To  all.)  The  Captain  informs  me  that  Colonel  Bowie, 
the  American  Consul,  is  on  this  ship.  Which  of  you  is  he? 

STEVE. 
What  do  you  want  with  the  American  Consul? 

DUFFY. 

(Turning  to  STEVE.)     What  business  is  that  of  yours? 
[48] 


THE   DICTATOR 


STEVE. 


(Hysterically.}  What  business  is  that  of  mine?  What 
business?  That's  funny!  Why —  Well,  why  don't  you 
tell  him?  why  don't  somebody  tell  him? 

BOWIE. 

(Pointing  to  STEVE.)  That  gentleman  is  the  American 
Consul. 

DUFFY. 

(Subserviently.)  Oh,  I  beg  your  pardon!  I  beg  your 
pardon ! 

STEVE. 

That's  all  right!  That's  all  right!  (Anxiously.)  But 
don't  mistake  me  for  anybody  else,  though. 

DUFFY. 

No,  sir.  I  was  cabled  to  come  here  from  Porto  Banos 
to  find  two  men — from  New  York.  Mr.  Brooke  Travers 
and  valet.  (STEVE  and  JIM  collapse  against  each  other.) 

STEVE. 

(Aside  to  JIM.)  Stand  up — stand  up — remember  you're 
a  Vice-Consul.  Act  like  one. 

DUFFY. 

They  are  believed  to  have  sailed  for  Porto  Banos. 
Now,  there  are  only  six  Americans  in  Porto  Banos,  and 
one  of  them  I  believe  to  be  Brooke  Travers,  and  I  have 
arrested  him  on  suspicion. 

STEVE. 
(Eagerly.)     You  have  arrested  him  already. 

DUFFY. 

I  have  him  safe  in  jail!     And  all   I   need  now,   Mr. 

I  41)1 


THE   DICTATOR 

Consul,  to  take  him  to  New  York,  is  your  official  per 
mission. 

STEVE. 

(Wildly.)  My  permission?  You  want  my  permission! 
You  can  have  my  permission,  you  can  have  the  Vice- Con 
sul's  permission,  too.  You  are  a  great  detective,  you  shall 
be  promoted  for  this.  Next  summer  you'll  be  guarding 
the  lawn  at  Oyster  Bay.  Come  on,  Jim !  (STEVE  and  JIM 
pick  up  the  steamer  trunk,  and  start  happily  up  stage.) 

DUFFY. 

(Saluting.)  Thank  you,  Colonel.  Your  good  wife — 
(STEVE  stops  suddenly.)  Mrs.  Bowie  told  me  you  would 
be  sure  to  help  me. 

STEVE. 

(Astonished.)  My  good  wife — Mrs.  Bowie?  (Nervous 
ly.)  Oh,  yes,  you've  seen  her? 

DUFFY. 
It  was  she  told  me  I'd  find  you  here. 

STEVE. 

Well,  we  won't  wait  for  her  now,  she  can  come  later. 
We'll  go  on  shore — we'll  go  quick  (turns  to  BOWIE)  and 
find  Rivas — (BowiE  and  VASQUEZ  exchange  glances) — and 
start  this  criminal  back  to  New  York.  (Mits.  BOWIE 
enters  briskly.) 

DUFFY. 

(Pointing  to  STEVE.)  Ah,  Mrs.  Bowie,  I've  found  your 
husband. 

MRS.  BOWIE. 

(Staring  at  STEVE.)  That's  not  my—  (STEVE  clasps 
her  in  his  arms,  and  to  drown  her  voice  shouts  excitedly.) 

[50] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Good-by,  Julia,  I'm  going  ashore!  Back  in  just  a 
minute ! 

MRS.  BOWIE. 

(Struggling,  calls  to  her  husband.)  John!  John!  Help 
me !  (LucY  enters  upper  left,  carrying  travelling  bags  ;  at 
sight  of  MRS.  BOWIE  in  the  arms  of  STEVE  she  drops  the 
travelling  bags.) 

STEVE. 

(To  MRS.  BOWIE.)  Don't  call  me  John,  call  me  Jack! 
Good-by.  Good-by!  (He  kisses  her,  and  sees  LUCY.) 
Good  heavens!  (Followed  by  JIM  he  rushes  off  right 
as  MRS.  BOWIE  falls,  shrieking  hysterically,  into  the  arms 
of  BOWIE.) 


CURTAIN. 


[51] 


ACT  II. 

This  scene  represents  the  interior  of  the  United  States  Con 
sulate  at  Porto  Banos.  The  consulate  is  situated  in  a 
square  room  built  for  a  hot  climate  with  high  ceiling 
and  thick  adobe  walls,  the  ceiling  resting  on  cross 
beams  which  apparently  allow  the  air  to  circulate 
between  it  and  the  top  of  the  ivalls.  For  five  feet 
from  the  floor  the  walls  are  tinted  with  a  light  co 
balt  blue;  above  that  they  are  whitewashed.  In  the 
centre  of  the  back  wall  is  a  Jiigh  doorway  with  a 
curved  top.  On  each  side  of  the  doorway  is  an 
iron-barred  ivindow.  In  the  left  wall  of  the  room  is 
a  door,  which  is  supposed  to  open  in  the  ante-room  of 
the  consulate,  which  leads  to  the  street.  From  the 
stage  this  door  is  reached  by  two  ivooden  steps,  the 
sill  of  the  door  making  a  third  step.  On  the  wall 
below  the  door  hangs  a  large,  much-stained  school 
map  of  the  United  States.  In  the  right  wall,  far 
up,  is  a  door  opening  into  what  is  supposed  to  be 
the  Consul's  bedroom.  Below  the  door  is  the  Con 
sul's  flat  desk.  Below  that  against  the  wall  a  bent- 
wood  rocking  chair.  In  front  of  the  desk  is  a  swivel 
or  office  chair  and  a  Mexican  waste-paper  basket. 
On  the  desk  are  official-looking  papers,  State  Depart 
ment  reports  in  red-linen  covers,  and  a  stamp  for 
sealing  papers,  such  as  are  used  by  notaries  public. 
Under  the  left  window  on  a  table  are  the  Ley  den  jars 
[52] 


THE   DICTATOR 

and  apparatus  of  the  wireless  telegraph.  It  has 
the  appearance  of  an  ordinary  Morse  receiver.  From 
it  wires  run  out  of  the  left  window.  This  room 
is  supposed  to  be  in  one  wing  of  the  Hotel  del 
Prado,  which  is  built  around  a  garden,  or  patio, 
and  it  is  situated  on  a  cliff  overlooking  the  harbor. 
The  fourth  side  of  the  garden,  the  side  which  is  not 
surrounded  by  the  hotel,  is  open  upon  the  cliff  where 
there  is  a  narrow  street.  Looking  through  the  win 
dows  and  door  in  the  back  wall  the  audience  sees  on 
the  back  drop  the  hotel  garden,  and  directly  across 
it  the  other  wing  of  the  hotel.  Through  the  right 
window  they  see  the  main  building  of  the  hotel. 
Through  the  left  window  is  visible  the  ocean  over  the 
edge  of  the  cliff  and  the  ships  at  anchor  in  the  harbor. 
In  front  of  tiie  back  drop  is  a  practical  flagpole,  with 
its  top  disappearing  above  the  centre  door.  When 
the  flag  is  hoisted  on  this  pole  its  folds  hang  just  in 
view.  An  American  flag  tied  in  a  roll  hangs  from 
the  halyards,  which  are  tied  to  a  cleat.  In  front  of 
the  fiagpolc,  and  running  from  left  to  right,  is  a  rmv 
of  tropical  plants  in  green  wooden  tubs.  Between 
these  and  the  centre  wall  of  the  consulate  a  path 
is  supposed  to  run  toward  the  right  to  the  main 
part  of  the  hotel. 

At  rise  of  Curtain  HYNE  is  discovered  at  the  wireless  table 
receiving  and  sending  messages.  There  is  much 
ticking  of  the  instrument,  and  flashes  and  sputterings 
from  the  electric  lights.  JOSE,  the  landlord,  a  bejew 
elled  and  excitable  Spanish-American,  enters  through 
the  centre  door.  He  is  followed  by  a  SERVANT 
carrying  two  framed  portraits,  one  of  George  Wash 
ington  and  one  of  General  Jackson.  Another  servant 
follows,  balancing  on  his  head  a  tin  bath  tub  in  which 
is  set  a  tin  water  pitcher.  Over  his  left  arm  are  a 
number  of  bath  toivels. 

[53] 


THE   DICTATOR 

HYNE. 

Hello,  Jose!     Is  the  Consul  over  at  your  hotel? 

• 

JOSE. 

(Bustles  up  to  HYNE.)  Ah,  my  good  friend,  I  am  glad , 
No,  the  Consul  has  not  arrived.  I  prepare  for  him.  I  am 
ver' — busy — ver' — busy.  He  comes  now — ver' — soon. 
(To  SERVANT.)  Pronto!  Pronto!  (He  takes  a  portrait 
from  the  servant  and  waves  the  other  servant  impatiently 
to  the  door  of  the  bedroom.)  Por  aqui,  por  aqui.  (With 
bath  tub  the  SERVANT  exits  right.  JOSE  steps  upon  the  chair 
and  then  to  the  desk,  and  hangs  picture  on  a  nail  in  the 
wall,  bustling  actively.} 

HYNE. 

Look  out!  don't  break  your  neck!  You've  plenty  of 
time !  The  Consul  was  still  on  the  ship  when  I  left.  I've 
just  sent  a  wireless  to  our  second  mate  to  find  out  where 
he  is.  (JosE  takes  second  picture  from  SERVANT  and  hangs 
it  next  to  the  other.  SERVANT  reenters  from  room,  and  exits 
with  other  servant.) 

JOSE. 

(On.  desk.)     What  do  you  want  with  the  Consul,  hey? 

HYNE. 

Oh!  Campos,  this  new  President  of  yours,  he's  held  up 
our  ship  till  the  Consul  signs  her  papers. 

JOSE. 

Ah,  I  suspect  the  new  President  wants — a  little  fee. 
(Coming  down  from  desk.) 

HYNE. 

Your  presidents  would  starve  if  they  couldn't  rob  our 
steamship  line.  (Key  of  wireless  sounds.) 

[54] 


THE  DICTATOR 

JOSE. 

Your  talking  machine,  it  talks  all  right,  now,  hey? 
fllvNE,  apparently  listening  to  message,  nods.}  Who  you 
talk  to  now?  (He  passes  into  the  garden  at  centre  and 
unwinds  flag  from  flagpole.) 

HYNE. 

Talking  to  the  ship.  Second  officer  says  (listens)  "  The 

old  man's  howling  for  his    papers."      (Takes    bundle    of 

papers  from  his  pocket  and  crossing  to  desk  places  them 

upon  it.} 

JOSE. 

(Hairing  hoisted  the  flag.)  That  is  good.  It  is  six — 
seven  months  since  a  Consul  put  up  that  flag. 

HYNE. 

Yes,  and  then  he  put  it  at  half  mast  for  the  last  Consul 
that  died —  (Looks  at  portraits  over  desk.)  Are  those 
yours  ? 

JOSE. 

(Coming  down  to  left.}  No,  not  mine.  What  good  are 
they  in  the  consulate  when  there  is  no  Consul?  So  I  have 
hang  them  in  my  barroom.  It  makes  the  Americans  in 
Puerto  Banos  feel  just  like  home. 

HYNE. 

Which — the  pictures  or  the  barroom?  I  guess  I'll  go 
over  and  see  if  I  can't  feel  at  home.  Tell  Colonel  Bowie 
to  be  careful  whose  name  he  signs  to  those  papers. 

JOSE. 
What  is  that? 

HYNE. 

(Takes  up  papers  and  then  at  centre  door  turns  back.) 
Never  mind,  I'll  do  it  myself.  Oh,  Jose,  tell  me  something. 

[55] 


THE   DICTATOR 

Tell  me  the  truth.      But   break  it  to  me  gently.     Is  the 
ice  machine  out  of  order  this  morning  ? 

JOSE. 
No,  seiior. 

HYNE. 
Saved!  Saved!  (Exit.) 

(The  voice  of  DUFFY  is  heard  off  left.)  'Tention !  Right 
face!  March!  (A  native  policeman  enters  left.)  Halt! 
(DUFFY  enters  with  the  REV.  MR.  BOSTICK,  followed  by 
another  policeman.  DUFFY  and  BOSTICK  are  handcuffed 
together.  BOSTICK  has  a  ball  and  chain  attached  to  his 
left  ankle.  He  is  a  well-built,  serious-looking  young  man, 
in  a  much-soiled  white  flannel  shirt  and  trousers,  black 
alpaca  coat,  and  black  straw  hat.  Wisps  of  straw  stick  in 
his  flannels,  and  he  wears  a  knotted  handkerchief  instead 
of  a  collar.  At  ordinary  times  he  would  be  smooth-shaven, 
but  now  he  has  a  week's  growth  of  beard,  which  gives 
him  a  disreputable  appearance.  He  speaks  in  a  peevish, 
angry  manner.) 

JOSE. 

(Coming  down  quickly.)  That  man  must  not  come  in 
here.  (Points  to  BOSTICK.) 

DUFFY. 

Why  not?  You  know  me — Duffy — secret -service  de 
tective. 

JOSE. 

(Impatiently.)  Yes,  I  know  you,  I  know  you !  What 
you  want  ? 

DUFFY. 
I  want  the  Consul. 

BOSTICK. 

(Defiantly.)  Yes,  and  7  want  the  Consul.  Where  is  the 
American  Consul? 

[56] 


THE  DICTATOR 


DUFFY. 


Don't  you  worry,  young  man;  you've  been  howling  to 
see  the  Consul,  and  now  you're  going  to  see  him.  (To 
JOSE.)  Where's  Colonel  Bowie? 


JOSE. 


(Crossing  right  toward  door  to  anteroom.)     I  go  look  out 
for  him  now. 


DUFFY. 

We'll  wait  here. 

JOSE. 


(Jeeringly.)  You  got  prisoner  at  last,  hey?  I'm  glad. 
I'm  afraid  you  take  me.  That  man  he  can't  stop  here. 
Put  him  into  the  patio.  (Goes  out  left.) 

DUFFY. 

(Calling  after  him.)  Tell  the  Consul  we'll  wait  for  him 
in  the  hotel.  (He  starts  toward  the  centre  door.  By 
means  of  the  handcuff  BOSTICK  drags  DUFFY  back.) 

BOSTICK. 
I  demand  that  these  irons  be  taken  off  my  wrist. 

DUFFY. 

There  you  go  again — always  thinking  of  yourself. 
Can't  you  see  I  have  to  wear  'em  too? 

BOSTICK. 
You  wait  till  the  Board  of  Missions  learns  of  this. 

DUFFY. 

Oh,  cut  out  the  Board  of  Missions!  You're  a  nice 
looking  missionary ! 

BOSTICK. 
I  admit  that  after  a  week  in  a  dungeon  my  appearance  is 

[57] 


THE  DICTATOR 

against  me.     But  I  am  a  missionary — the  Rev.  Arthur 
Bostick. 


DUFFY. 

Well,  if  you're  the  Rev.  Arthur  Bostick,  why  did  you  tell 
me  your  name  was  Jim  Robinson  ? 

BOSTICK. 

(In  distress.)  I  don't  know.  I  did  it  when  I  was 
frightened.  The  disgrace,  the  indignity  of  being  arrested, 
I,  a  clergyman,  arrested  as  a  criminal !  And  I  was  ex 
pecting  a  friend  on  this  steamer.  I  didn't  want  her  to 
know.  I  don't  want  her  to  know  now.  I  admit  it  was 
wrong  of  me.  It  was  a  lie. 

DUFFY. 

(Cheerfully.)  I  know  it  was  a  lie.  Your  name  is 
Brooke  T  ravers. 

BOSTICK. 

I  tell  you  my  name  is  Arthur  Bostick. 

DUFFY. 
Well,  prove  it. 

BOSTICK. 

How  can  I  prove  it  here;  no  one  knows  me  here.  I  tell 
you,  I  came  in  from  the  Pacific  side.  But  back  there  in 
the  mountains  everybody  knows  me.  (Appealingly .)  It's 
only  a  six  days'  ride. 

DUFFY. 

Yes,  I  see  myself  riding  into  these  mountains  alone 
with  you.  You'd  lead  me  into  an  ambush  and  escape. 
I've  caught  you  in  one  plot  to  escape. 

BOSTICK. 

I — tried  to  escape?     Now,  see  here,  you,  if  you  dare — 

[58] 


THE   DICTATOR 

DUFFY. 

(Pulling  BOSTICK'S  hand  down  by  means  of  the  hand 
cuff.)  Don't  you  raise  your  hand  to  me.  You  did  plot 
to  escape  last  night,  and  (touching  pocket)  I  have  a  war 
rant  here  for  your — accomplice. 

BOSTICK. 
Bah !  I  have  no  accomplice. 

DUFFY. 

Who's  been  bringing  food  to  the  jail  for  you  this  last 
week  ? 

BOSTICK. 

Well,  you  haven't. 

DUFFY. 

Well,  who  has? 

BOSTICK. 

A  very  honorable,  charitable  lady. 

DUFFY. 
Yes,  your  accomplice. 

BOSTICK. 

You  idiot!  Why,  I  never  saw  the  lady  until  I  was  in 
jail.  She  came  there  with  the  Governor  out  of  curiosity, 
and  when  she  found  a  clergyman  locked  in  with  brigands 
and  murderers,  and  starving,  yes,  starving — her  heart  was 
touched — 

DUFFY. 

It  was!     I  read  her  letters. 

BOSTICK. 
You  read  her  letters — to  me? 

DUFFY. 

There  was  one  in  each  basket  of  food,  and  they  were 
the  love  letters  of  an  accomplice. 

[59] 


THE   DICTATOR 

BOSTICK. 

They  were  letters  of  sympathy  from  a  noble-hearted 
woman.  I — I  admit  Juanita's  style  is  rather  tropical, 

even  passionate 

DUFFY. 

I  know  all  about  Juanita,  and  I'll  tell  you  what  else  I 
know.  Yesterday  you  didn't  get  anything  to  eat. 

BOSTICK. 
(Savagely.}     I  know  that  just  as  well  as  you  do! 

DUFFY. 

(Triumphantly.}  And  why?  Because  I  captured  yes 
terday's  basket  of  food,  and  the  letter  in  it — and  I  stopped 
your  plot  to  escape. 

BOSTICK. 

There  was  no  plot  to  escape. 

DUFFY. 

Oh,  no!  She  only  plotted  to  "fly  with  her  beloved  to 
this  mountain  home." 

BOSTICK. 

(Excitedly.}  Fly  with  me — "her  beloved"? — Juanita 
proposed —  (Feeling  the  stubble  on  his  chin.}  Look  here, 
Duffy — before  I  see  Juan — before  I  see  the  Consul,  can't  I 
make  myself  a  little  cleaner?  If  he  sees  me  like  this,  he'll 
never  believe  I'm  a  missionary. 

DUFFY. 
You  certainly  are  a  shine-looking  missionary. 

BOSTICK. 
Just  a  shave  and  a  bath — or — or,  just  a  collar,  even  ? 

[60] 


THE  DICTATOR 

DUFFY. 

Yes,  that's  fair!  Well,  you'll  have  to  hurry.  We  got  to 
take  that  steamer  inside  of  one  hour,  soon  as  the  Consul 
signs  your  extradition  paper.  You'll  have  time  for  a 
shave  and  a  collar — but —  (Looks  at  ha?idcuffs.)  I  don't 
see  how  you  can  take  a  bath  without  my  taking  one  too, 
and  I  won't  do  that.  I  won't  do  it!  (He  calls  off  left  to 
JOSE.)  Hello  there,  Jose! 

JOSE. 
(Speaking  from  the  anteroom.)     Well. 

DUFFY. 

We're  going  to  the  hotel — to  find  the  barber.  The 
moment  the  Consul  gets  here — let  me  know.  (JosE  ap 
pears  in  doorway.} 

JOSE. 

Yes,  I'll  tell  him. 

DUFFY. 

Don't  forget !  ( They  exit  at  centre.  JOSE  walks  to  centre 
and  stands  looking  after  them.  A  porter  enters  left,  carry 
ing  a  steamer  trunk.) 

JOSE. 

Que  esta  ? 

PORTER. 

El  consolato  Americano  ! 

JOSE. 

(Joyfully.)  Ah,  the  Consul!  (Waves  PORTER  to  room, 
left.)  For  aqui,  por  qui  !  (PoRTER  carries  trunk  to  door 
of  bedroom  and  exits.  JOSE  runs  to  door  left  and  speaks 
off,  bowing  low.)  Good  morning,  Excellency.  I  make 
you  welcome,  Excellency !  (STEVE  and  JIM  enter  from  the 
anteroom.) 

[61] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Good  morning!  How  do  you  do?  Who  are  you? 
(PORTER  returning  from  room  right,  after  placing  trunk, 
and  disappears  centre.) 

JOSE. 

I  am  Jose,  the  landlord!  This  is  my  hotel.  It  is 
yours. 

STEVE. 

Thank  you  very  much.  We're  looking  for  the  con 
sulate. 

JOSE. 

This  is  the  consulate.     It  is  yours. 

STEVE. 
Thank  you,  again. 

JOSE. 

(Pointing.)  And  this  is  the  sleeping  room  of  the  Consul 
— and  there  is  my  hotel,  where  you  come  for  la  comida — 
the  food — to  eat.  And  there  is  the  telegraph — the  wire 
less. 

STEVE. 

Wireless?  (Points  to  door,  left.)  And  in  there — is  that 
mine,  too? 

JOSE. 

Yes,  Excellency,  the  room  on  the  street  is  for  the  Vice- 
Consul. 

STEVE. 

(To  JIM.)  You  have  a  room  on  the  street.  W'hat's  the 
name  of  that  street  ? 

JOSE. 

It  is  called  Bogran,  in  memory  of  the  great  President 
Bogran.  He  was  President  long,  long  time — eight  months. 

[62] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE- 

You  mean  years? 

JOSE. 

No!  Eight  months  is  long  time  to  be  President  in  San 
Manana.  Bogran  was  good  President.  He  was  assassi 
nated. 

STEVE. 

Assassinated?  (To  JIM,  right.}  I  wonder  what  they 
do  to  a  bad  President  ?  Then  all  this  wing  of  the  hotel  is 
the  consulate? 

JOSE. 

Si,  sc-nnr,  for  ten  years.  Since  I  keep  the  hotel  I  know 
three,  four,  five  Consuls! 

STEVE. 
Indeed! 

JOSE. 
(Sadly.)     All  die. 

STEVE. 

All  what? 

JOSE. 

All  die. 

JIM. 

(Timidly.)     What — what  did  they  die  of? 

JOSE. 

Just  the  fever. 

JIM. 

Fever ! 

STEVE. 

And  are  we  likely  to  die  of  fever,  too? 

JOSE. 

No,  no!  I  take  good  care  of  you.  Fever  not  touch  you 
if  you  come  my  hotel  and  I  give  you  big  glass  brandy. 

[03]    ' 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Why  didn't  the  other  Consuls  take  "big  glass  brandy"? 

JOSE. 
(Indignantly.)     They  take  too  many  glass  brandy. 

STEVE. 

(To  JIM.)  We  lose  both  ways.  (He  sinks  despondently 
into  the  swivel  chair.)  And  I  was  so  anxious  to  get  this 
job  that  I  paid  five  thousand  dollars  for  it.  Jolly  place 
this  to  spend  the  rest  of  your  life  in.  Only  comfort  I  can 
see  is  that  it  will  be  short  life.  (Picks  up  stamp  on  desk.) 
Is  this  the  consular  seal  ? 

JOSE. 

Yes,  Excellency.  I — myself — prepared  everything  for 
you  as  soon  as  I  received  your  letter. 

STEVE. 

(Startled.)  My  letter?  ( JIM  nudges  him.)  Oh, yes,  so 
I  wrote  you  I  was  coming,  did  I  ? 

JOSE. 

Yes,  Consul,  but  you  \vrote  me  also  that  madame,  your 
wife,  was  coming. 

STEVE. 

(Rises.)     My  wife!     (Tiirns  to  JIM.) 

JOSE. 
She  is  not  coming,  no  ? 

STEVE. 

My  wife,  no,  no,  she's  not  coming!  No!  You  see  the 
Health  Officer  told  us  about  the  fever,  so  I  sent  her  on  to 
Jamaica.  (Fiercely.)  And  she'll  stay  in  Jamaica  until  I 
send  for  her. 

[64] 


THE  DICTATOR 

JOSE. 

Ah,  I  am  sorry! 

STEVE. 

Yes,  I'm  sorry  too.  I'll  miss — I'll  miss —  (Aside  to 
JIM.)  What's  the  name  of  my  wife? 

JIM. 
Julia. 

STEVE. 

Julia.  (To  JOSE.)  Yes,  I'll  miss  Julia  very  much, 
dear  little  Julia,  bless  her! 

JOSE. 

(Mysteriously.)  Perhaps,  Excellency,  it  is  just  so  good 
that  she  did  not  come. 

STEVE. 
What's  that? 

JOSE. 

Pardon,  Excellency,  but  perhaps  it  is  just  as  good  as  she 
did  not  come  until  the  other  lady  has  gone  away. 

STEVE. 
Other  lady  ?     What  other  lady  ? 

JOSE. 

The  lady  in  my  hotel — who  is  waiting  to  marry  you. 

STEVE. 

Waiting  to  marry  me!  (7'oJm.)  Juanita!  (To  JOSE.) 
Is  she  in  this  hotel?  I  mean,  is  there  a  woman  in  this 
hotel  who  says  I'm  jroing  to  marry  her?  She  must  be  mad ! 
What  nonsense!  Why,  I  am  married — married  to  Edna! 

JIM. 

(In  a  quick  whisper.}     Julia! 
[65] 


STEVE. 

Yes,  Julia,  dear  little  Julia — down  in  Jamaica! 

JOSE. 

I  am  sorry,  Excellency!  The  scnora  tells  my  wife  you 
come  here  to  marry  her,  but  when  I  read  the  Excellency's 
letter  and  he  says  his  wife  comes  with  him — I  tell  my  wife 
to  say  nothing. 

STEVE. 

That's  quite  right!  Don't  let  that  woman  know  I'm 
here. 

JOSE. 

But  she  saw  the  ship  come  in. 

STEVE. 

Well,  she  can  see  the  ship,  but  she  mustn't  see  me. 
Before  I  see  anybody  I  must  pay  my  respects  to  the  Presi 
dent.  I  haven't  presented  my  credentials  yet.  (He  takes 
credentials  from  pocket  and  shmcs  a  loose  page.)  And 
there's  my  speech.  I  don't  know  a  word  of  it.  I  hope 
the  President  will  like  my  speech.  Bowie  wrote  it.  Jim, 
old  man,  would  you  mind  opening  my  trunk  and  laying 
out  my  frock  coat  and  high  hat? 

JIM. 
High  hat,  sir? 

STEVE. 

Yes — in  the  tropics  I  have  noticed  that  diplomats  and 
American  dentists  always  wear  silk  hats. 

JIM. 

Certainly!     (Exit  left.) 

STEVE. 

Now  listen,  landlord!  There  is  a  secret-service  de 
tective — 

[66] 


THE  DICTATOR 

JOSE. 

Senor  Duffy? 

STEVE. 
Oh,  you  know  him? 

JOSE. 

(Indignantly.}  We  all  know  him!  He  has  tried  to 
arrest  everybody! 

STEVE. 

That's  the  man.  Well,  he  has  arrested  some  one  at  last, 
and  I'm  going  to  ship  him  and  his  prisoner  on  that  steamer 
(points  off  upper  left)  to  New  York  by  way  of  Jamaica. 
He's  gone  to  the  jail — 

JOSE. 
No,  Excellency,  he  is  at  my  hotel. 

STEVE. 

(Eagerly.)     Has  he  got  a  prisoner  with  him? 

JOSE. 
Yes,  Excellency! 

STEVE. 

(Delightedly.)  Good!  Tell  him  I  want  to  see  him. 
(JosE  turns  up  and  looks  off  left.) 

JOSE. 
Si,  senor.     Ah!  a  lady,  Excellency. 

STEVE. 

(Terrified.}  A  lady!  I'm  not  at  home!  I'm  out!  Is 
it  that  lady  ? 

JOSE. 

No,  senor.     (Lucv  appears  in  door  left.} 
[67] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Ah,  Miss  Sheridan!     Ah,  do  come  in!     (Lucv  coldly 
turns  her  head  from  him  and  addresses  JOSE.) 

LUCY. 
Is  this  the  United  States  Consulate  ? 

JOSE. 
Si,  senorita. 

LUCY. 

Colonel  Bowie,  the  Consul,  has  he  arrived? 

JOSE. 

Siy  senorita.     This  gentleman — 


STEVE. 

(Waving  him  off  left.)  That'll  do,  landlord;  that'll  do. 
(Crosses  to  JOSE,  and  pushes  him  up  steps.)  The  lady 
knows  who  I  am  perfectly  well.  You  don't  have  to  tell 
her  who  /  am.  Just  wait  in  there  please,  and  when  I'm 
ready  for  the  detective,  I'll  ask  you  to  bring  him  here. 

JOSE. 
Si,  senor.     (Exit  left.) 

STEVE. 

(Cordially  turning  to  LUCY.)  My !  It  is  good  to  see  you 
again.  I  was  aftaid — 

LUCY. 
Pardon  me,  but  I  am  here  to  see  the  Consul 


The  Consul — yes — but  while  he — eh — while  we're  wait 
ing  for  the  Consul  have  you  any  objections  to  my  company  ? 

[68] 


THE  DICTATOR 

LUCY. 

I  have — very  strong  objections. 

STEVE. 

1  beg  your  pardon. 

LUCY. 

As  any  woman  would — after  your  conduct. 

STEVE. 
My — conduct  ?     When  ? 

LUCY. 
You  know  when. 

STEVE. 

(After  a  pause.)     Oh! 

LUCY. 

Yes. 

STEVE. 

You  mean  when  I  left  the  ship — Mrs.  Bowie —     (With 
disgust.}     Julia! 

LUCY. 

(Indignantly.}     Julia! 

STEVE. 

Yes,  wasn't  that  perfectly  outrageous? 

LUCY. 
It  wasl 

STEVE. 

I  was  never  so  embarrassed  in  my  life — to  be  suddenly 
embraced — by  a  married  woman — 

LUCY. 

(Coldly.)     I  didn't  see  that. 
[09] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Didn't  you  see  that?  Oh,  it  was  awful!  Oh!  you 
ought  to  have  seen  that.  If  you  didn't — see  it,  you  wouldn't 
believe  it. 

LUCY. 

I  don't  believe  it?  I  saw — you — force  your  attentions 
upon  a  lady  against  her  protest,  in  spite  of  her  struggles. 

STEVE. 

(In  a  tone  of  indignation.)  Well,  well,  well!  Now, 
that  shows  you  no  one  is  safe,  no  one  is  safe.  If  you  could 
turn  things  against  me  that  way,  no  innocent  man  is  safe. 

LUCY. 

But  I  sawr  you — and  the  passengers  saw  you — and  her 
husband  saw  you. 

STEVE. 

(Triumphantly.)  Ah!  You  admit  her  husband  saw 
me — and  yet — and  yet — you  never  guessed ! 

LUCY. 

(Turning  away  from  him.)  I  never  guessed  you  cared 
for  Mrs.  Bowie! 

STEVE. 

I — care  for  Mrs.  Bowie!  You — say  that  to — me!  I 
merely — it  was  this  way — I  will  explain  how  it  happened — 
(She  moves  away  impatiently.}  No,  I  insist — you  have 
doubted  me,  and  I  will  explain.  And  I'm  going  to  tell  the 
truth,  too. 

LUCY. 

Of  course  you  are. 

STEVE. 

Of  course  I  am.  Mrs.  Bowie  was  er — er — thanking 
me. 

£70] 


THE  DICTATOR 

LUCY. 

Thanking  you  ? 

STEVE. 

That  was  all.  Thanking  me.  She  was  grateful.  I 
had  rendered  her  husband  a  slight  service.  You  know 
there's  yellow  fever  here? 

LUCY. 
Well  ? 

STEVE. 

Well,  it's  very  bad,  and  they  wanted  to  go  to  Jamaica 
and  wait  there  until  the  fever  here  was  stamped  out,  but 
they  couldn't  go  to  Jamaica  because  he  had  no  money. 

LUCY. 
Why  not? 

STEVE. 

Because  he  lost  it  all  to  me  on  his  way  down — betting 
on  the  run.  I  gave  him  a  run  for  his  money.  He  got  the 
run,  1  got  the  money. 

LUCY. 
That — was  gambling. 

STEVE. 

Yes,  but  wait !  \Vhen  I  learned  I  was  forcing  that  young 
couple  to  spend  their  honeymoon  in  this — fever  swamp,  I 
gave  him  back  his  money  and  she,  in  a  burst  of  gratitude, 
in  her  innocent  girlish  way — threw  her  arms  around  my 
neck,  and  you — came  out  at  that  exact  moment  and  im 
agined  that  I— that  I—  (His  voice  breaks  with  emotion.) 
Oh,  how  could  you — 

LUCY. 

I  am  very  sorry.  I  didn't  know.  W7on't  you — forgive 
me?  (She  comes  toward  him.) 

STEVE. 

(Magnanimously.)     Of  course  I  will  forgive  you.     But 
[71] 


THE   DICTATOR 

how  could  you  doubt  me,  I — I  who  have  never  looked  into 
a  woman's  eyes  until  I  looked  into  yours — 

LUCY. 

(Moving  away.}     Oh!     You  know  you  must  not  speak 
so  to  me.     I  told  you  not  to  do  it. 

STEVE. 
Then  you  mustn't  let  me  see  you.     For  when  I  see  you, 


LUCY. 
Oh! 

STEVE. 

"Oh"  what? 

LUCY. 


If  Mrs.  Bowie  has  gone  to  Jamaica,  what  am  7  to  do? 
Who's  to  chaperone  me?  The  Board  of  Missions  put  me 
in  charge  of  the  Consul — and  his  wife? 


STEVE. 

By  Jove!  that's  so.     But  there's  Bostick,  confound  him! 
By  the  way,  where  is  Bostick? 

LUCY. 
I — I  don't  know. 

STEVE. 

Don't  know!     Didn't  he  meet  you ? 

LUCY. 
No. 

STEVE. 

He  didn't!     Hurrah!     Perhaps  he's  dead!     But  he  sent 
some  one  to  meet  you. 

LUCY. 
No. 

[72] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

(Indignantly.)     He  didn't? 

LUCY. 

(Apologetically.)  He  lives  very  far  back  in  the  moun 
tains,  six  days'  ride  from  the  coast,  and  they  tell  me  the 
rivers  are  swollen  and  the  trail  is  impassable 

STEVE. 

(Fiercely.)  I'd  like  to  see  the  swollen  river  that  could 
keep  me  back  if  you  were  coming  to  marry  me!  Why,  he 
should  have  been  camping  out  at  the  end  of  that  wharf  a 
month  ago,  with  a  telescope  stuck  in  each  eye!  I'd  like 
to  be  on  the  bank  of  a  swollen  river  while  Bostick  was 
trying  to  climb  the  bank.  (He  kicks  violently  in  front  of 
him.) 

LUCY. 

You  forget  yourself!  You  are  speaking  of  the  man  I  am 
going  to  marry. 

STEVE. 

I  can't  help  it,  if  you  are  going  to  marry  him.  I  wish  I 
could  help  it.  Why  are  you  going  to  marry  him,  anyway? 
Because  you  love  him? 

LUCY. 

Because  I  have  promised  to  marry  him.  I  have  prom 
ised  all  of  them. 

STEVE. 

(Violently.)     All  of  them!     How  many  more  are  there? 

LUCY. 

All  of  the  Board  of  Missions.  I  promised  them  I  would 
help  him  in  his  work. 

[73] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

How  can  you  help  him  when  he  isn't  here  ?  Now  listen ! 
Bostick  has  lost  his  chance.  Why  don't  you  give  me  a 
chance  now  ?  I  wish  the  Board  of  Missions  had  put  you 
in  charge  of  me,  instead  of  Bowie. 

LUCY. 

Yes,  but  you  see  Colonel  Bowie  is  our — Consul,  and  he — 
has  a  wife,  and  you  are  not  the  Consul !  And  you  are  not 
married,  are  you? 

STEVE. 

(Thoughtfully.}  No,  I  suppose  not.  No,  in  a  way  I'm 
not. 

LUCY. 

(Sharply.)     Are  you  married? 

STEVE. 

How  dare  you  ask  me  that?  I — I  who  have  never 
looked  into  a  woman's  eyes  until  I  looked  into  yours. 

LUCY. 
I  told  you  not  to  say  that  to  me. 

STEVE. 

Well,  then,  don't  bring  your  eyes  where  I  am.  (JosE 
appears  excitedly  at  door  left.) 

JOSE. 

Excellency!  Excellency!  (JosE  signals  in  pantomime 
that  there  is  some  one  in  the  room  behind  him.} 

STEVE. 
Who!    What! 

JOSE. 

The  lady !    The  widow  lady ! 
[74] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Juanita? 

JOSE. 
Si,  senor. 

STEVE. 

(Running  to  LUCY.)  Don't  desert  me!  Don't  leave 
me!  There's  an  awful  woman  coming  here,  old  friend  of 
Howie's.  Bowie,  no,  I  guess  you'll  have  to  go.  It's  a 
private  affair — of  Bowie's — Bowie  wouldn't  like  it  known. 

LUCY. 
Of  course  I'll  go.      (Sadly.)     But  where? 

STEVE. 

Where?  To  the  hotel.  There's  no  other  place.  Jose, 
your  wife  will  take  care  of  Miss  Sheridan,  won't  she? 

JOSE. 
(To  LUCY.)     Ah!  si,  senorita.     (Exits  into  room  left.) 

STEVE. 

His  wife  will  take  care  of  you.  (He  calls.}  Jim!  Jim! 
go  with  Miss  Sheridan  to  the  hotel.  (JiM  enters,  JIM  boics, 
and  ivitJi  LUCY  moves  to  door  centre.) 

STEVE. 

(Taking  LUCY'S  hand  and  speaking  hysterically.)  Good- 
by,  good-by,  and  if  we  should  never  meet  again 

LUCY. 
Aren't  you  coming  to  lunch? 


(Wildly.)     Lunch!     In  this  country  you  can't  look  as 
far  into  the  future  as  lunch.     What  with  assassinations, 


THE   DICTATOR 

revolutions,  yellow  fever — and — and  —  Juanita  —  you're 
lucky  to  live  till  after  breakfast.  Farewell —  (Taking 
her  hand.)  Remember,  I — never  looked  into  a  woman's 

eyes 

LUCY. 

(Indignantly,  withdrawing  her  hand.)  Good  morning. 
(Exits  centre,  with  JIM.) 

STEVE. 

(Reproachfully.}  Not  good  morning,  good-by,  perhaps 
forever!  (JosE  appears  at  door  left.) 

JOSE. 

Excellency !  she  will  not  wait.  She  is  coming.  (STEVE 
comes  down  to  JOSE.) 

STEVE. 

(Desperately.}  Let  her  come!  Jose,  we  who  are  about 
to  die,  salute  thee.  (He  crosses  and  stands  by  swivel 
chair.} 

JOSE. 

(Sympathetically.}  Ah,  senorl  (Speaks  into  door  left.) 
Enter  Senora.  (  JUANITA,  a  dark,  Spanish-looking  woman, 
enters.  She  wears  a  black-lace  walking  dress,  open  at  the 
throat  ;  in  her  hair  is  a  high  comb  on  which  is  draped  a  man 
tilla  ;  she  carries  a  fan.  She  rushes  down  steps ;  on  seeing 
STEVE  halts,  looks  at  him,  and  then  turns  upon  JOSE.) 

JUANITA. 

(Looking  from  STEVE  to  JOSE.)  I  told  you  to  bring  me 
to  Colonel  John  T.  Bowie. 

JOSE. 
Si,  senora.     (Points  at  STEVE.) 

STEVE. 
(Hurriedly.)     That'll  do,  Jose.     You  can — go! 

[7(51 


THE   DICTATOR 

JOSE. 

I — go,  senor.     (Exit  eagerly  left.) 

JUANITA. 

(Calling  after  him.)  Jose!  Jose!  (Turns  to  STEVE.) 
How  dare  you  give  commands  ?  That  man  deceived  me. 
He  told  me  I  would  find  here  Colonel  John  T.  Bowie.  (As 
she  speaks  the  name,  she  stabs  the  air  with  her  fan  as  though 
it  were  a  dagger.  STEVE  observes  this  with  horrified  inter 
est  and  moves  down  nearer  to  table.) 

STEVE. 
(Hesitatingly.)     I  am  Colonel  John  T.  Bowie! 

JUANITA. 

You!     (Turns  away  in  anger.)     You  are  crazy! 

STEVE. 

Yes,  I'm  nearly  crazy;  but  it  is  also  true,  madam,  that 
I  am  the  Consul. 

JUANITA. 
Bah !     Is  this  a  joke  ? 

STEVE. 

(Hysterically.)  A  joke!  Hah,  hah,  Hike  that!  (Laughs.) 

JUANITA. 

(Fiercely.)     You  laugh!     (Moves  toward  him.) 

STEVE. 

(Retreats  to  desk.)  I  assure  you  that  being  Colonel 
Bowit — is  no  joke.  ( Takes  credentials  from  table.)  If  you 
doubt  my  word,  madam,  here  are  my  credentials  from 
the  State  Department. 

JUANITA. 

And  do  you  think  you  are  man  enough  to  carry  that  off  ? 
[77] 


THE   DICTATOR 


STEVE. 


(Smiling  ingratiatingly  and  weighing  envelope  in  his 
hand.)     That's  not  heavy! 


JUANITA. 

Bah!  Don't  trifle  with  me!  What  are  you  trying  to 
do  here  ?  What's  your  little  game,  eh  ? 

STEVE. 

(With  attempt  at  dignity.)  My — "game" — madam! 
I  beg  you  to  remember  that  you  are  addressing  the  Ameri 
can  Consul — John  Bowie!  (He  strikes  an  attitude,  and 
attempts  to  lean  upon  the  back  of  the  swivel  chair,  which 
sinks  beneath  his  weight.  He  recovers  and,  folding  his 
arms,  scowls  fiercely.) 

JUANITA. 

You  cannot  persuade  me  that  you  are  Colonel  Bowie. 
I — who  for  three  years  have  loved  John  Bowie;  I — who 
for  three  years  have  hated  John  Bowie ! 

STEVE. 

How  are  you  feeling  toward  John  this  morning  ? 

JUANITA. 

I  hate  him  so  that  if  I  thought  you  were  he  (draws 
dagger  from  left  sleeve)  I  wrould  plant  this  in  your  treach 
erous  heart. 

STEVE. 

(Drawing  chair  between  them.)  But  you  don't  think  I'm 
he.  You  just  said  so.  I  heard  you.  (Points.)  You 
were  standing  right  over  there.  The  man  you  want  to 
stab  is  an  impostor. 

JUANITA. 

You  are  the  impostor!     I  have  known  John  Bowie  in 

[78] 


THE   DICTATOR 

Panama  for  eleven  years.  I  would  have  married  him,  but 
rny  husband  objected.  When  my  husband  died,  Bowie 
married  a  Northern  woman.  Two  weeks  ago  he  sailed 
for  this  place  in  that  steamer;  but  to-day,  when  he  read 
the  letter  I  sent  on  board,  he  was  afraid  to  come  on  shore; 
and  now  you — aha!  I  see — I  see — how  much  did  Bowie 
pay  you  for  this  ? 

STEVE. 

Pay  me  ?  Oh,  yes !  I'm  making  my  fortune  at  this.  The 
Bank  of  England  couldn't  pay  me  for  what  I'm  going 
tli  rough. 


Ah!  he  did  not  pay  you.  Then,  why  do  you  pretend — 
unless—  (Triumphantly.}  Ah!  I  see,  I  see!  (Eagerly.} 
There  is  a  detective  here,  searching  for  two  Americans 
from  New  York.  He  has  arrested  a  good  and  noble  gentle 
man,  who  has  lived  here  for  months.  If  Duffy  were  not 
the  fool  he  is,  he  would  know  that  the  only  steamer  on 
which  these  men  could  have  escaped  from  New  York 
arrived  here  this  morning,  and  that  one  passenger,  with 
his  friend,  came  ashore  under  a  name — that  is  not  his. 
(She  approaches  STEVE,  smiling  mockingly,  and  leans  on 
flic  chair.)  Tell  me,  which  are  you — the  valet  or  Mr. 
Brooke  Travers? 

STEVE. 

Tell  you  \  Madam,  compared  to  you  Sherlock  Holmes 
is  in  the  same  class  with  Duffy. 

JU  ANITA. 

Don't  interrupt  me!  I'm  thinking!  You  arc  not  the 
valet.  You  are  the  sort  of  person  who  would  need  a 
valet.  So  you  are  Brooke  Travers. 

STEVE. 

(With  an  attempt  at  gayety.}     Oh !  so  I'm  Travers,  am  I? 

[79] 


JUANITA. 

You  know  you  are.  Now,  if  I  tell  Duffy  that  you're  the 
man  he  really  wants,  he  will  release  his  prisoner  and  take 
you  back  to  New  York.  (Pause.)  No,  I've  nothing 
against  you.  No,  I  will  not  send  you  back  to  New  York. 

STEVE. 
Oh,  well!  just  arrange  this  to  suit  yourself. 

JUANITA. 

I  mean  to.  In  a  few  minutes  the  detective  will  be 
here  with  his  prisoner.  He  will  ask  you  to  sign  the  extra 
dition  paper.  You  will  refuse  to  do  so  and  you  will  set 
the  prisoner  free. 

STEVE. 

Now  see  here,  madam,  here  is  where  the  worm  turns. 
7  am  running  this  consulate,  and  I  will  not  set  that  prisoner 
free,  but  I  am  going  to  ship  him  and  that  damned  detective 
out  of  this  town  as  fast  as  that  steamer  can  carry  them. 

JUANITA. 

You  are  mad !  The  prisoner — is  the  man— I  love !  And 
if  you,  as  the  American  Consul,  do  not  set  him  free  I  will  tell 
Duffy  who  you  are!  Now,  if  you  wish  to  remain  here  in 
peace  and  safety  as  John  Bowie,  the  Consul,  you  will  tear 
up  that  extradition  paper.  If  you  refuse,  Mr.  Brooke 
Travers,  you  will  go  back  to  New  York — a  prisoner  your 
self.  Choose ! 

STEVE. 

Choose?  You  haven't  left  me  any  "choose."  I've  got 
to  let  him  go  free. 

JUANITA. 

All!  I  thank  you,  Consul. 

[80] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Don't  thank  me.     You  drive  a  hard  bargain,  madam. 

JUANITA. 

It  is  for  the  man  I  love.  But  I  can  be  generous,  too.  I 
will  help  you.  Do  you  believe  me?  (She  holds  out  her 
hand,  in  the  palm  of  which  is  the  dagger  with  the  blade 
pointed  up  her  arm.  STEVE  starts  to  take  her  hand,  sees  the 
dagger,  and  jumps  back.) 

STEVE. 
(Anxiously.)     Aren't  you  afraid  you'll  cut  yourself? 

JUANITA. 

Ah,  no !  I  am  used  to  that  dagger.  And  I  have  used  it, 
too. 

STEVE. 

Yes,  you  told  me  you  were  a  widow.  (A  bugle  sound  off 
left.  JOSE  enters  excitedly.) 

JOSE. 

Excellency !  El  Presidente !  The  President.  He  come 
to  call  upon  your  Excellency. 

STEVE. 

The  President?  I  say,  that's  very  polite  of  him,  isn't 
it?  How  do  I  look?  I  ought  to  have  a  high  hat,  Jose — 
has  he  got  on  a  high  hat  ?  (From  off  left  comes  the  sound 
of  muskets  brought  to  a  "ground  arms,"  and  a  bugle  sounds. 
JUANITA  starts  left.) 

STEVE. 

Don't  go!  I  can't  speak  a  word  of  Spanish;  stay  here 
and  interpret  for  me.  (JUANITA  returns  and  stands  below 
table.)  Jose,  run  to  the  hotel  and  get  some  champagne, 
quick!  (JosE  runs  off  centre.  STEVE  addresses  por- 

[81] 


THE   DICTATOR 

traits  on  the  wall.)  O  General  Washington  and  General 
Jackson,  don't  look  so  ashamed  of  this  American  Consul; 
he's  doing  the  best  he  can.  Wait  till  you  hear  my  speech. 
(He  runs  into  bedroom.  Bugle  and  drum  sound,  and 
shouts  of  "  Viva  el  Presidente!"  COLONEL  GARCIA  enters 
and  stands  at  foot  of  steps.) 

GARCIA. 

El  Presidente  I  (Voices  cry,  outside,  "  Viva  el  Presi 
dente  !  Viva,  viva ! "  The  flare  of  bugles  is  repeated. 
CAMPOS  enters,  accompanied  by  CORPORAL,  and  soldiers 
who  fall  to  right  and  left  of  steps.  CAMPOS  is  a  large, 
fierce-looking  man,  of  dark  complexion,  in  the  uniform  of  a 
general.) 

CAMPOS. 

WThere  is  this  Colonel  John  T.  Bowie  ?  (He  sees  JUAN- 
IT  A.)  Ah,  senora !  (He  bows.) 

JUANITA. 

(Making  a  deep  courtesy.)  El  Presidente!  (STEVE  en 
ters  from  bedroom.  He  has  changed  into  a  frock  coat  and 
carries  a  high  hat.) 

CAMPOS. 

You  are  Colonel  John  T.  Bowie — 

STEVE. 

Yes,  your  Excellency,  I  have  that  honor.  (Reaches  be 
hind  him  for  the  written  copy  of  his  speech,  ivhich  is  lying 
open  on  the  table,  and  moves  the  paper  where  he  can  see  it. 
Reading.)  I  welcome  your  Excellency.  (Glances  again 
at  speech  on  desk.)  I  mean,  "  Thank  you  for  your  welcome, 
and  allow  me  the  honor  of  presenting  my  credentials — 
(picking  up  credentials) — and  also  to  present  you  with 
assurances  of  my  distinguished  consideration,  and  the  hope 
that  those  cordial  relations — 

[82] 


THE   DICTATOR 

CAMPOS. 

Silence ! 

STEVE. 
I — I  beg  your  pardon ! 

CAMPOS. 

Silence!  I  will  not  receive  your  papers.  I  will  not 
receive — you!  You  are  under  arrest! 

STEVE. 

Under  arrest!  (To  JUANITA.)  What's  the  matter? 
Doesn't  he  like  my  speech? 

CAMPOS. 
You  are  under  arrest  for  plotting  against  me. 

STEVE. 

(Indignantly.)  I — plot  against  you  ?  Why — I  made 
you !  I — oh !  I  see.  (Crosses  and  takes  CAMPOS  familiarly 
by  the  arm.)  Look  here,  General,  can  I  speak  to  you 
alone?  Why,  I  am  the  last  man — my  dear  General 

Ilivas 

CAMPOS. 

(Savagely  withdrawing  his  arm.)     Rivas! 

JUANITA. 

(In  a  whisper  to  STEVE.)      That — is  not  Rivas. 

STEVE. 

(Lightly.)  Not  Rivas?  Oh,  I  beg  your  pardon!  I 
thought  you  were  the  President.  (Laughs.) 

CAMPOS. 

I  am  the  President — by  the  voice  of  the  peoples 
[83] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Well,  then,  by  the  voice  of  the  people,  if  you  are  Presi 
dent,  where  is  Rivas? 

CAMPOS. 

In  jail,  waiting  to  be  shotted!  (He  turns  his  back,  and 
whispers  with  COLONEL  GARCIA.) 

STEVE. 
(To  JUANITA.)     Rivas — in  jail? 

JUANITA. 

This  is  Campos — there  has  been  a  revolution. 

STEVE. 
When? 

JUANITA. 

Last  Tuesday. 

STEVE. 

Last  Tuesday!  When  we  were  at  sea!  Oh!  John 
Bowie!  (To  JUANITA.)  He  knew  of  this — this  is  why 
he  wouldn't  come  on  shore.  He  wasn't  afraid  of  yellow 
fever.  He  wasn't  even  afraid  of  you.  It  was  this  he  was 
afraid  of.  (Raises  his  clenched  fists  in  the  air.)  O  John 
Bowie,  if  we  ever  meet  again. 

CAMPOS. 

Listen  to  me!  I  sent  my  soldiers  to  the  wharf  to  arrest 
you,  but  they  did  not  recognize  you  by  the  description.  If 
any  of  my  men  had  caught  you  in  the  street,  they  would 
have  shotted  you  against  a  wall.  But  here,  in  the  consul 
ate — I  cannot  touch  you. 

STEVE. 

I'm  sorry  you're  disappointed. 
[84] 


THE   DICTATOR 

CAMPOS. 

But  I  will  keep  you  here  a  prisoner  as  long  as  you  live. 

STEVE. 

Keep  me  a  prisoner!  My  government  will  send  a  war 
ship  down  here,  and — 

CAMPOS. 

That!  (Snaps  his  fingers.)  That — for  your  govern 
ment.  Before  a  warship  comes  to  Puerto  Banos,  you  will 
he  dead.  You  are  my  prisoner  in  this  room.  You  will 
never  leave  it  again.  (STEVE  runs  to  centre  door.)  Halt! 
(To  the  soldiers.)  Guard  those  doors.  Do  not  let  that 
man  escape.  (Two  soldiers  mount  guard  on  either  side  of 
the  steps.  Two  others  go  up  centre  and  stand  at  either  side 
of  the  doorway.  To  STEVE.)  If  you  walk  into  the  patio, 
you  will  be  shotted.  If  you  go  into  the  street,  you  will  be 
shotted.  Do  I  speak  the  English — very  plain  ? 

STEVE. 

I  understand  every  word  you  say.  But  you  don't  un 
derstand  me.  ( To  JUANITA.)  I  think  this  has  gone  quite  far 
enough.  (To  CAMPOS.)  General,  you  must  know  that 
you  are  the  victim  of  a  mistake — 

CAMPOS. 
Bah !     (He  turns  to  GARCIA.) 

JUANITA. 

(Angrily.)     What  are  you  going  to  do? 

STEVE. 

Going  to  tell  him  I'm  not  Colonel  Bowie.     I  don't  intend 

to  get  "shotted." 

[85] 


THE  DICTATOR 

JUANITA. 

You  cannot  do  that — I  forbid  it ! 

STEVE. 
Why  can't  I  do  it? 

JUANITA. 

Because — if  you  are  not  John  Bowie,  the  Consul,  you 
cannot  free  the  man  I  love. 

STEVE. 

Oh,  the  man  you  love  be  hanged!  I'm  a  prisoner  my 
self,  now.  I've  got  to  get  myself  free. 

JUANITA. 

No !  First  free  the  man  I  love,  and  then  when  we  have 
escaped  to  the  mountains — then  let  them  know  that  you 
are  not  John  Bowie. 

STEVE. 

We  !     Are — you  going  with  him  ? 

JUANITA. 

Of  course  I  am. 

STEVE. 

Hurrah!  I'll  set  him  free.  (He  turns  to  CAMPOS.  JOSE 
enters  centre  bearing  a  tray  on  which  are  champagne  bottles, 
and  glasses  filled  with  champagne.  JIM  and  HYNE,  much 
excited,  follow  JOSE.)  Now,  then,  General;  sorry  to  lose 
you,  but  if  you  are  quite  ready  to  go —  (To  JOSE,  who 
7.9  approaching  CAMPOS  with  champagne.)  No,  no!  Not 
for  that  man — that's  the  wrong  President.  (JosE  places 
champagne  on  desk.) 

JOSE. 

(As  he  passes  STEVE.)  Pardon,  Excellency,  the  de 
tective  and  the  prisoner  insist  on  coming  in. 

[86] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Bring  them  here  at  once.  (JosE  exits  centre.}  Now, 
General,  this  is  my  consulate,  and  this  is  my  busy  day. 

CAMPOS. 
Bah!     (To  JUANITA.)     A  dios,  sciiora. 

JUANITA. 

A  dios,  cl  Presidente. 

CAMPOS. 

Good  morning,  Colonel  Bowie. 

STEVE. 

Drop  in  whenever  you're  passing.  (Glancing  at  soldiers.} 
I'm  sure  to  be  at  home.  (CAMPOS  exits  with  officer  left. 
DUFFY  and  BOSTICK  enter  centre,  followed  by  two  policemen.) 

DUFFY. 

Ah,  Mr.  Consul,  glad  you've  arrived.  I'm  in  a  great 
hurry  to  catch  the  steamer.  Put  your  seal  on  this,  please. 
(Gives  extradition  paper  to  STEVE.)  Extradition  paper  for 
the  prisoner.  (JUANITA  draws  near  to  STEVE  and  shows 
him  the  dagger.) 

JUANITA. 

Remember ! 

STEVE. 

Don't  do  that!  Do  you  think  I'm  likely  to  forget?  (To 
DUFFY.)  Now,  Duffy,  you're — you're  quite  sure  this  is  all 
right  ? 

UUFFY. 

Perfectly  sure. 

STEVE. 

(Appealingly  to  JUANITA.)  He  says — he  thinks,  it's  all 
right. 

[87] 


THE   DICTATOR 

JUANITA. 

(Brandishing  knife.)     Dios  mio! 

STEVE. 
Duffy,  are  you  sure  this  is  the  man  ? 

DUFFY. 

There's  no  mistake  about — him.  That  is  Brooke 
Travers. 

BOSTICK. 

I  am  not  Brooke  Travers! 

JUANITA. 
(Close  at  STEVE'S  elbow.)     Well? 

STEVE. 

(To  BOSTICK.)  You're  right — you're  not  Brooke  Trav 
ers.  I'm  sorry  you're  not,  sir,  but  you're  not. 

DUFFY. 

What's  that? 

STEVE. 

I  can't  help  it,  I  feel  just  as  bad  as  you  do.  That  man  is 
not  Brooke  Travers.  That  man  is  free!  (To  JUANITA.) 
Are  you  satisfied  now  ? 

JUANITA. 

Yes,  my  friend. 

DUFFY. 

This  is  an  outrage.  (LucY  runs  on  from  anteroom  left. 
As  his  back  is  turned  to  her  she  does  not  recognize  BOSTICK.) 

LUCY. 

(To  STEVE,  in  great  distress.}  They  told  me  the  Presi 
dent  had  ordered  you  to  be  shot.  (BosTicK  turns  toivard 
her.  She  recoils.)  Arthur! 

[88] 


STEVE. 

Arthur?     Do  you  know  this  man? 

LUCY. 
This  is  the  man  I  am  going  to  marry,  Arthur  Bostick. 

STEVE. 

(With  wild  delight — to  JIM.)  He's  mine!  He's  mine! 
(To  LUCY.)  That  isn't  Arthur  Bostick!  That's  Brooke 
T ravers.  Why  every  man  in  New  York  knows  Brooke 
Travers.  Ask  any  New  Yorker  you  like.  (Points  to 
JIM.)  Ask  that  man.  (Points  at  BOSTICK.)  Isn't  He 
Brooke  Travers? 

JIM. 

Of  course  he  is !  (STEVE  runs  to  desk  and  violently  stamps 
the  extradition  paper  with  the  consular  seal.) 

STEVE. 

Of  course  he  is!  (Shoves  paper  at  DUFFY.)  Officer, 
there  is  your  prisoner.  Take  him  to  New  York. 

JU  ANITA. 

You  dare  to  defy  me?  (STEVE  in  fear  springs  from  her, 
which  shows  her  to  DUFFY.) 

DUFFY. 

The  accomplice!      I  have  a  warrant  for  you,  too! 

STEVE. 

(Leaping  back  with  delight.)  You  have  a  warrant  for 
her?  Then  take  her,  too.  Take  them  both  to  New  York. 
(DUFFY  seizes  her  wrist  and  with  the  assistance  of  two  police 
men  pulls  BOSTICK  and  JUANITA  to  the  steps.)  Put  them 
in  the  hold  of  the  ship — and  yourself  with  them,  and — 
sink  the  ship! 

[89] 


THE  DICTATOR 

BOSTICK. 

This  is  an  outrage,  an  outrage! 

JUANITA. 

I  will  have  revenge — revenge!  (DuFFY  and  the  police 
rush  up  steps  and  go  off,  dragging  with  them  JUANITA  and 
BOSTICK.  LUCY  is  at  the  foot  of  steps  looking  after  them. 
STEVE  dances  across  the  stage  to  table.) 

LUCY. 

(Indignantly.)  Why  did  you  send  that  man  to  New 
York? 

STEVE. 

So  that  you  couldn't  marry  him!  (LucY,  with  a  gesture 
of  anger,  runs  off  left.  STEVE  attempts  to  rush  after  her  ;  the 
sentinels  lock  their  bayonets  in  jront  of  him.  To  soldiers.) 
How  dare  you  stop  me !  I  am  the  American  Consul ! 

CORPORAL. 
El  Presidente  commands  it. 

STEVE. 

The  President!  I  made  him  President.  Jim,  bring 
these  gentlemen  some  of  that  champagne.  Jose,  help 
those  gentlemen.  (To  CORPORAL.)  How  much  does  the 
President  give  you  to  guard  me? 

CORPORAL. 
Eighteen  cents  a  day,  but  he  doesn't  give  it. 

STEVE. 

Eighteen  cents  for  a  brave  soldier.  Why,  I  will  give  you 
twenty  cents  a  day.  Are  there  many  more  like  you  ? 

[90] 


THE  DICTATOR 

CORPORAL. 

There  are  two  thousand  more,  just  as  brave  as  I  am. 

STEVE. 

Will  they  be  my  guard  of  honor,  too,  for  twenty  cents  a 
day? 

CORPORAL. 
Yes,  Excellency. 

STEVE. 

(Shouting.)     I'll  do  it!  I'll  do  it! 

JIM. 

What — what  are  you  going  to  do  ? 

STEVE. 

(Leaping  upon  table,  and  waving  a  bottle  of  champagne.) 
I  am  going  to  start  a  revolution  against  Campos.  I  am 
going  to  make  myself  President.  I  will  be  Dictator  of  San 
Manana!  (HYNE,  JIM,  JOSE,  and  the  soldiers  raise  the 
glasses  of  champagne  toward  STEVE,  and  cheer  him  wildly, 
waving  their  muskets,  as  the  curtain  falls.) 


[91] 


ACT  III. 

Same  as  in  Act  II,  except  that  there  is  now  in  the  centre  of 
the  stage  a  round  table.  About  it  are  set  three  short 
wooden  benches.  On  these  are  seated  STEVE,  the 
CORPORAL,  and  three  other  soldiers  engaged  most 
amicably  in  playing  poker.  On  the  table  are  the 
bottles  of  champagne  and  glasses  of  the  Second  Act. 
At  the  desk  JOSE  is  busily  writing.  Everyone  is 
smoking  a  huge  cigar. 

STEVE. 

I'll  take  two  cards,  please.     (Soldier  on  his  left  deals 
him  two  cards.) 

CORPORAL. 

I'll  take  two  cards,  also. 

STEVE. 

You  want  two  cards?     Now,  are  you  sure  you  under 
stand  this  game  ? 

CORPORAL. 
Si,  senor. 

STEVE. 

You're  sure  you  want  two  cards? 

CORPORAL. 
Si,  senor. 

STEVE. 

All  right.     Give  him  two  cards.     You  can  have  more  if 
you  want. 

[92] 


THE   DICTATOR 

CORPORAL. 

No,  gracias.     (He  is  dealt  two  cards.) 

STEVE. 

Is  that  all,  now?  You  took  two  cards,  hey?  Well,  I'll 
bet  five  cents. 

CORPORAL. 

I — I  raise  you  one  peseta. 

STEVE. 
You  raise  mcl 

CORPORAL. 

Una  peseta. 

STEVE. 

Humph!     Well,  I'll  raise  you. 

CORPORAL. 

Well,  I  raise  you  one  more  time. 

STEVE. 

Raise  me  again.  (He  counts  the  money  in  the  pot.) 
There's  forty  cents  in  that  pot.  I'll  have  to  see  you  for 
the  percentage.  I  call  you. 

CORPORAL. 
You  call  me? 

STEVE. 

Yes.     What  you  got? 

CORPORAL. 

I  got  three  kings. 

STEVE. 

You  are  learning  the  game!  You  got  three  kings,  hey? 
That's  odd,  for  I  have  three  kings  too.  What's  your  next 
highest  card? 

[93] 


THE   DICTATOR 

CORPORAL. 

My  next  highest  card  is — another  king! 

STEVE. 

Oh,  that's  no  good!  Mine's  an  ace!  (As  he  throws 
down  his  cards  the  key  of  the  wireless  telegraph  sounds; 
STEVE  holds  up  his  hand  for  silence.)  Hush!  Listen! 
(Calling.)  Is  that  you,  Jim  ? 

JIM. 

(From  the  bedroom.)  Yes,  sir.  (JiM  appears  at  door.) 
Is  it  working? 

STEVE. 

Yes,  working  fine.  Do  it  again.  (JiM  exits  right,  and 
key  again  sounds.)  Keep  it  up,  it  sounds  great.  (HYNE 
enters  left,  and  with  surprise  halts,  listening  to  the  wireless.) 

HYNE. 
Hello,  who's  that  calling  me? 

STEVE. 

That's  Jim!  (Calling.)  Come  out,  Jim!  (JiM  ap 
pears  at  door.) 

HYNE. 
Jim? 

STEVE. 

Yes,  we've  tapped  your  machine  and  run  a  private  wire 
into  my  bedroom. 

HYNE. 

A  wire  in  your  bedroom!     What  for? 

STEVE. 

Well,  you  see,  some  one  might  question  the  fact  that  I  am 
[94] 


THE  DICTATOR 

the  American  Consul,  and  it  occurred  to  me  it  would  be 
very  convenient  if  we  could  call  up  the  State  Department 
and  the  State  Department  would  answer  that  I  am  all 
right — 

HYNE. 

(Laughing.}     Oh,  I  see! 

STEVE. 

No  one  could  tell  whether  the  answer  came  from  the 
White  House  or  my  bedroom.  With  the  Marconi  you've 
got  to  take  any  answer  they  give  you,  but  from  my  bed 
room  you  get  the  exact  answer  you  want.  (In  an  eager 
whisper.}  Well,  how  did  you  succeed?  Have  you  bribed 
everybody  ? 

HYNE. 

I've  bought  up  all  the  friends  Campos  ever  had.  Every 
officeholder  in  this  town  is  now  out  for  you. 

STEVE. 
Good! 

HYNE. 

But  you  came  near  losing  me. 

STEVE. 
How? 

HYNE. 

The  shock  I  got  giving  away  thousand-dollar  bills.  I 
haven't  quite  woke  up  yet. 

STEVE. 
But  the  town's  awake. 

HYNE. 

I  wish  you  fellows  were  not  prisoners,  you  could  go  out 
and  see  for  yourselves. 

[95] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

I'm  not  a  prisoner.     I'm  a  patriot. 

HYNE. 
Patriot!     Why,  this  isn't  your  country. 

STEVE. 

No,  but  I  find  that  anyone  down  here  who  is  against 
the  government  is  a  patriot.  (He  crosses  to  JOSE  and 
reads  ivhat  he  is  writing.}  Another  proclamation? 

JOSE. 
Si,  senor. 

STEVE. 

That's  good!  Put  it  up  in  the  Plaza.  (Jos£  goes  out 
left.  To  HYNE.)  We  give  them  proclamations  fresh 
every  hour.  Did  you  read  the  one  in  the  Plaza?  No? 
Oh,  I  wish  you  had!  I  wrote  that  one.  I  said  if  their 
warships  tried  to  enter  this  harbor — my  warships  would 
sink  them. 

HYNE. 

But  you  haven't  got  any  warships. 

STEVE. 

Neither  have  they.  And  I  said,  "  Campos  has  insulted 
a  distinguished  diplomat"— that's  me — "for  which  reason 
the  Liberal  Party  will  tolerate  Campos  no  longer." 

HYNE. 
The  Liberal  Party? 

STEVE. 

Yes,  I'm  the  Liberal  Party.  I'll  bet  I'm  the  most  liberal 
party  this  town  ever  saw.  The  Governor  alone  cost  me 
two  thousand  dollars.  I  offered  him  fifteen  hundred  to 

[96] 


THE   DICTATOR 

betray  the  President,  but  he  held  out  for  two  thousand. 
Said  Campos  was  his  dearest  friend — and  he  couldn't  do 
it  for  less.  The  army — that  goes  by  contract;  you  pay  the 
commanding  general  and  he  rents  it  out  by  the  week. 
I've  got  it  for  this  week.  They  cost  me  four  hundred  and 
fifty  dollars.  That's  not  dear  for  an  army,  is  it?  Still, 
even  with  a  cheap  army,  I  don't  see  what  can  prevent  my 
being  Dictator  by  lunch  time.  My  revolution  breaks 
loose  at  eleven.  Now  the  only  thing  that's  worrying  me 
is  that  that  ship  hasn't  sailed,  and  until  Duffy  and  Juanita 
have  started  for  New  York  I'm  likely  to  be  arrested  in 
earnest — and  to  be  stabbed,  too. 

HYNE. 

Well,  if  you  want  to  get  rid  of  the  ship,  why  don't  you 
sign  those  papers  ? 

STEVE. 

No!  that  ship  can't  leave  with  John  T.  Bowie  on  board. 
Before  she  sails  I  want  him  on  shore. 

HYNE. 

What  are  you  going  to  do  with  Bowie? 

STEVE. 

I'm  undecided  yet.  (Takes  slip  of  paper  from  his 
pocket.}  Here's  a  copy  of  the  message  I  sent  him  by  Jose 
to  lure  him  on  shore. 

HYNE. 

(Looking  at  paper.)     It's  signed  Rivas. 

STEVE. 

Yes;  Jose  copied  Rivas's  handwriting  and  signed  Rivas's 
name. 

HYNE. 

(Reads.)     "To-day  I  will  be  released  from  jail.     To- 
[97] 


THE   DICTATOR 

night  I  will  again  be  President.     Come  on  shore  at  once 
and  receive  your  reward." 

STEVE. 

And  he'll  get  it,  too. 

HYNE. 

"Wait  at  the  consulate.  Rivas."  That  ought  to  fetch 
him,  but  he  won't  come  to  the  consulate. 

STEVE. 

Yes,  he  will.  Jose  will  tell  him  I'm  in  jail  or  shot — as 
he  planned  I'd  be.  (HYNE  goes  up  to  wireless.}  What  are 
you  going  to  do? 

HYNE. 

I'll  just  telegraph  the  ship  and  find  out  if  Bowie  has  left 
it.  (He  works  the  key  of  wireless,  receiving  answer  during 
following  speech.} 

STEVE. 

Good!  Everything  is  coming  my  way  now.  I've  got 
rid  of  Duffy  and  Juanita  and  Bostick — my  hated  rival. 
Now,  if  Bowie  will  walk  only  into  my  parlor. 

HYNE. 

(Having  received  message.}  It's  all  right.  Second  offi 
cer  says  Bowie  and  his  wife  left  the  ship  ten  minutes  ago. 

STEVE. 

(Down  at  desk.}  Fine!  Now,  then,  I'll  seal  the  ship's 
papers  (picks  up  ship's  papers  from  desk  and  begins  to 
stamp  them,  with  consular  seal},  and  you  send  the  Captain  a 
wireless  and  tell  him  he  can  weigh  anchor  in  ten  minutes. 
(HYNE  works  the  wireless.  STEVE  stamps  the  papers 
violently.}  Good-by,  Mr.  Duffy,  good-by! 

SOLDIER. 
(Off  left.}     Halto  ! 

[98] 


THE   DICTATOR 

DUFFY. 

(Off  left  in  a  tone  of  terror.)  Don't  stop  me!  I'm  a 
secret  service  detective. 

STEVE. 

Duffy!  (DUFFY  rushes  on  left  with  clothes  muddy  and 
torn  and  eyes  blackened.  He  throws  himself  in  front  of 
STEVE  and  clasps  him  around  the  knees.  The  two  soldiers 
follow  him  from  left,  and  CORPORAL  and  the  other  soldier 
come  down  from  centre.) 

DUFFY. 

Save  me!  Protect  me!  I  claim  the  protection  of  the 
American  Consul! 

STEVE. 

(Shaking  him  off.)  Save  you\  Where  are  your  pris 
oners  ? 

DUFFY. 

They're  not  my  prisoners.     I  was  their  prisoner. 

STEVE. 
What  have  you  done  with  Brooke  Travers? 

DUFFY. 

That  wasn't  Brooke  Travers.  He  was  the  man  he  said 
he  was — a  missionary  from  the  mountains 

STEVE. 
Nonsense ! 

DUFFY. 

I'm  convinced  of  it!     (He  rises.) 

JIM. 
Who  convinced  you  ? 

DUFFY. 

About  a  hundred  of  his  parishioners — each  with  a  ma 
chete  that  long. 

[99] 


THE  DICTATOR 

HYNE. 

Where? 

DUFFY. 

At  the  Market  Place.  About  a  hundred  mountaineers 
shouted  out "  El  Padre!  "  and  he  yelled,  "  To  the  rescue  my 
children ! "  They  chased  me  all  the  way  to  the  hotel  with 
that  Juanita  woman  in  front  with  a  knife — that  long.  She 
swears  she'll  have  my  heart's  blood.  Hide  me,  please 

hide  me 

STEVE. 

(With  disgust.)     Bah!     Are  you  afraid  of  a  woman? 

DUFFY. 

I  ami  And  she  swears  she'll  have  your  heart's  blood, 
too! 

STEVE. 

My  heart's  blood. 

DUFFY. 

She's  coming  now  to  get  it. 

STEVE. 

(To  soldiers.)  Here!  What  do  you  mean  hanging 
around  doing  nothing?  Guard  those  doors!  (Soldiers 
run  off  left  and  centre.)  Don't  let  anybody  get  in! 
Heavens!  here  am  I  paying  for  a  whole  army  and  I'm 
not  safe  from  that  woman  yet. 

DUFFY. 

Well,  I'm  not  safe  either.  Can't  you  hide  me  some 
place  ? 

STEVE. 

No !  Yes,  I  have  it.  Go  hide  yourself  on  the  steamer. 
She  sails  in  ten  minutes.  Go  back  to  New  York.  You 
will  be  safe  there.  (Pushes  him  left.)  I  shall  be  so  sorry 

[100] 


THE   DICTATOR 

to   part  with   you,  Duffy,  but   it's  your   only   chance   to 
escape. 

DUFFY 
No! 

STEVE. 

Your  life  is  in  danger.     If  Juanita  catches  you 

DUFFY. 

I  won't  leave  this  place  until  I  have  arrested  Brooke 

T  ravers. 

STEVE. 

(Crosses  and  whispers  to  HYNE.)     Hyne,  I  wonder  if 
we  could  persuade  him  that  Bowie  is  Brooke  Travers. 

HYNE. 
I  guess  so. 

STEVE. 

You'll  help  me,  won't  you. 

HYNE. 

Sure,  I  will. 

STEVE. 

Jim — 

JIM. 
Colonel. 

STEVE. 

Go  back  to  the  hotel  and  bring  that  criminal  here  with 
Mrs.  Bowie,  and  tell  Mrs.  Bowie  I'm  in  jail. 

JIM. 
Yes,  sir.     (Exit  centre.} 

DUFFY. 

Why  do  you  want  your  wife  to  think  you're  in  jail? 

rion 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

(Startled.}     My  wife! 

DUFFY. 

I  don't  see  why 

STEVE. 

(He  glances  meaningly  at  HYNE.)  That's  it,  Duffy, 
you  don't  see  why.  (To  HYNE.)  He — he — wouldn't  see 
why — would  he? 

HYNE. 

(Mysteriously.}     Ah,  no! 

STEVE. 

But  we — we  see  why ! 

HYNE. 
Yes — we  see  why! 

STEVE. 

Duffy,  you  are  happily  married. 

DUFFY. 
Yes,  sir. 

STEVE. 

Your  wife  loves  you,  Duffy. 

DUFFY. 

Yes,  sir. 

STEVE. 

(To  DUFFY.)  But  suppose  she  did  not,  Duffy.  Suppose 
she  loved  a  villain — a — viper.  Suppose  she  refused  to 
come  on  shore  and  share  your  home,  and  planned  to  fly 
with  the  viper  to  Jamaica  on  that  very  steamer,  Duffy, 
would  you  not  hide  your  sorrow  from  such  a  wife — even  in 
a  jail  ? 

DUFFY. 

No,  I  don't  think  I  would.     I'd  make  her  come  home. 
[  1°*  ] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

But  she  has  ceased  to  love  me,  Duffy.  And  what  is 
home  without  love?  She  has  loved  that  viper  ever  since 
we  left  New  York,  when  he  rushed  up  the  gangplank,  pale 
and  trembling,  and  begged  me  to  conceal  him  in  my  cabin. 
"Hide  me!"  he  cried,  "the  police  are  on  my  track." 

DUFFY. 
(Excitedly.}     The  police? 

STEVE. 

Ah!  I  should  not  have  told  you  that.  I  promised  him 
I  would  not  betray  him. 

HYNE. 
Oh,  go  on  and  tell  him !    Why  should  you  shield  him  ? 

STEVE. 

I  promised  him.  I  even  tried  to  sacrifice  that  young 
missionary  in  order  that  he  might  escape. 

DUFFY. 

Look  here,  gentlemen,  you're  keeping  something  back 
from  me.  I  demand  the  name  of  that  man. 

STEVE. 

No.  Cruelly  as  he  has  wronged  me,  I  will  not  tell  you 
his  name. 

DUFFY. 

That's  enough!     You  don't  have  to!     I  know  his  name! 

STEVE    AND    HYNE. 

(Admiringly.}     You  do? 

DUFFY. 

I  worked  it  out  by  deductions. 
[103] 


THE  DICTATOR 

HYNE. 

Isn't  he  wonderful ! 

STEVE. 

What  folly  for  us  to  try  and  hide  anything  from  that 
man.  He  frightens  me.  He  reads  my  very  soul. 

DUFFY. 

(Producing  handcuffs.}  There'll  be  no  mistake  this 
time. 

STEVE. 

Ah,  spare  him,  Duffy!  I  cannot  forget  that  my  wife 
loves  him.  Let  those  poor  guilty  souls  go  free.  What's 
ten  thousand  dollars  to  you? 

DUFFY. 
Ten  thousand  dollars! 

STEVE. 

(Impatiently.}  Yes,  the  reward  the  New  York  police 
offered  for  him — dead  or  alive.  (HYNE  to  conceal  his 
smile  turns  up  stage.} 

DUFFY. 

Have  the  New  York  police  offered  ten  thousand  dollars 
for  that  fellow? 

STEVE. 
Dead  or  alive. 

DUFFY. 

(Explosively.}  I  don't  care  who  he  is!  He  goes  back 
to  New  York! 

HYNE. 

(At  centre  looking  oft  right.}      Lookout!     He's  coming! 

DUFFY. 

(Excitedly.}  I  call  on  you  two  to  help  me  arrest  this 
man. 

[104] 


THE    DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Not  that,  Duffy,  not  that ! 

DUFFY. 

Yes,  in  the  name  of  the  law.  (STEVE  and  DUFFY  hide 
on  right  of  centre  door,  HYNE  on  left.  BOWIE  enters  centre, 
following  JIM  coming  from  right.) 

JIM. 

(Speaking  as  he  enters.}  No,  sir,  Campos  put  him  in 
jail  an  hour  ago. 

DUFFY. 

Now  then!  (From  behind  him  DUFFY,  STEVE,  and 
HYNE  each  seize  BOWIE'S  arms  and  DUFFY  handcuffs  his 
hands  behind  his  back.)  Run,  get  me  a  cab!  (JiM  runs 
off  left.)  You  are  my  prisoner,  Mr.  Brooke  Travers. 
(MRS.  BOWIE  enters  centre.) 

BOWIE. 

(Struggling  violently  with  handcuffs.")  Brooke  Travers! 
What  does  this  mean  ?  Take  those  things  off  me !  (Turns 
and  sees  STEVE.)  You !  Oh,  so  you  did  this ! 

DUFFY. 

(Eagerly.}  No,  he  didn't— I  did  it  all  myself.  I  get 
all  the  reward. 

MRS.   BOWIE. 

(Clinging  to  HOWIE.  Hysterically.)  John !  John !  what 
does  this  mean? 

BOWIE. 

(To  DUFFY.)  Take  these  things  off  me.  I  am  the 
\merican  Consul. 

STEVE. 

Pardon  me,  7  am  the  American  Consul. 
[  105  ] 


THE   DICTATOR 

DUFFY. 

(To  BOWIE.)     Of  course  he  is;  you  told  rue  so  yourself. 

BOWIE. 

(DUFFY  and  HYNE  drag  BOWIE  to  the  steps.)  I  will 
appeal  to  the  President. 

STEVE. 

Who  made  him  President?  I  did.  Officer,  take  him 
to  New  York. 

BOWIE. 

(Struggling.}     I'll  be  hanged  if  I  go  to  New  York. 

STEVE. 
So  will  I.     (BowiE  is  now  on  steps.} 

MRS.   BOWIE. 

John !  they  will  have  to  arrest  me,  too.  I  will  never 
desert  you.  (DUFFY  endeavors  to  separate  them.} 

DUFFY. 

Now,  madam,  now — madam! 

MRS.  BOWIE. 
Don't  touch  me,  you  monster! 

DUFFY. 

Madam,  I  am  not  speaking  to  you  officially,  but  as  a 
family  man,  married  eight  years.  Before  it  is  too  late, 
go  back  to  the  husband  you  promised  to  honor  and  obey. 

(Points  at  STEVE.) 

MRS.   BOWIE. 

To  that  man!     That  brute! 
[106] 


THE   DICTATOR 

DUFFY. 

(Beseechingly.)     Now,  do,  Mrs.  Bowie. 

STEVE. 

Xo,  it's  too  late,  Duffy,  old  friend,  let  her  go.  She  has 
chosen  that  man,  let  her  go  with  him.  (To  MRS.  BOWIE.) 
You  never  loved  me,  Kittie — Julia. 

MRS.  BOWIE. 
No,  I  certainly  never  did. 

STEVE. 
Oh,  you  hear  that,  Duffy? 

DUFFY. 

(Horrified.)     She  admits  it !     (JiM  appears  at  door  left.) 

JIM. 

The  cab's  ready,  sir. 

DUFFY. 

Good!     Come  on,  now!     (Pushes  BOWIE  up  steps.) 

BOWIE. 

(To  STEVE.)  You  think  you're  mighty  smart,  don't 
vou,  but  I  took  five  thousand  dollars  from  you. 

STEVE. 

You  took  my  wife  from  me.  That's  worth  five  thousand. 
(MRS.  BOWIE  turns  suddenly  and  screams  at  him.)  It's 
worth  fifty  thousand.  (DUFFY  rushes  off  with  BOWIE 
and  MRS.  BOWIE,  assisted  by  JIM.  Eagerly  to  HYNE.) 
Do  you  think  Duffy  can  get  him  to  New  York? 

HYNE. 

Didn't  you  tell  Duffy  if  he  got  him  there  he'd  have 
ten  thousand  dollars? 

[107] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Yes. 

HYNE. 

He'll  get  him  there. 

STEVE. 

But  Bostick  got  away  from  Duffy. 

HYNE. 
Yes,  but  he  had  Juanita  to  fight  for  him. 

STEVE. 

Juanita !  Heavens !  I'd  forgotten  her.  And  she's  com 
ing  here  for  my  heart's  blood.  I'll  never  get  my  revolution 
started  if  they  don't  leave  me  alone.  (Looks  at  watch.} 
It's  to  break  out  at  eleven,  and  it's  twenty  minutes  to  that 
now. 

CORPORAL. 

(At  centre,  looking  off  right.)  Excellency,  here  comes  a 
woman.  Do  I  shoot? 

STEVE. 

Yes,  shoot  her. 

HYNE. 

(Looking  off  right  to  CORPORAL.)  No,  stop!  (To 
STEVE."!  It's  Miss  Sheridan. 

STEVE. 
Miss  Sheridan !     (Enter  LUCY  and  JOSE.) 

LUCY. 

I  saw  Mrs.  Bowie  come  in  here.  Could  I  speak  to  her? 
(HYNE  indicates  STEVE — she  turns.) 

STEVE. 
Can  I  do  anything  for  you  ? 

[108] 


THE   DICTATOR 

LUCY. 

Senor  Jose  says  that  at  the  hotel  I'm  in  danger. 

STEVE. 
In  danger? 

JIM. 
Colonel — Colonel ! 

STEVE. 
Well! 

JIM. 

Juanita!     I've  just  seen  her  at  the  hotel. 

JOSE. 

Si !  She  is  coming  with  a  knife  so  long.  (Holds  his 
hands  far  apart.) 

STEVE. 

That  knife  of  hers  grows  longer  every  minute.  No  one 
is  safe  from  that  woman.  But  don't  be  frightened,  my 
guard  of  honor  will  protect  you.  Ilyne,  have  you  got  a 
gun? 

HYNE. 

(Touching  his  hip  pocket.)     Yes. 

STEVE. 

Then  go  in  there,  please.  (Points  left.)  And  see  she 
doesn't  get  in  that  way.  And  Jose,  you  go  with  him. 
(HYNE  and  JOSE  exit  left.  To  JIM.)  Is  your  gun  loaded  ? 

JIM. 
(Picks  up  shotgun  and  looks  down  barrel.)     I  think  so. 

STEVE. 

Well,  go  in  my  bedroom  and  find  out.  Put  it  at  your 
head — and  pull  the  trigger.  If  it  goes  off — it's  loaded. 

[109] 


THE   DICTATOR 

JIM. 

(Crossing  to  door  right.)  Yes,  sir.  (Slaps  his  chest.) 
If  that  woman  comes,  you'll  find  me — 

STEVE. 

Under  the  bed;  yes,  I  know.  (JiM  exits  into  bedroom. 
To  soldiers  at  centre  door.)  Now,  don't  let  her  slip  by 
you,  boys. 

LUCY. 

(Admiringly.)  You  are  very  resourceful.  Somehow  I 
feel  I  am  safer  with  you  than  I  would  be  with  Colonel 
Bowie.  I  don't  trust  him. 

STEVE. 

Do  you  trust  me?  (From  the  bedroom  there  comes  a  puff 
of  smoke  and  the  report  of  a  gun.  JIM  appears  at  door.) 

JIM. 
It  was  loaded,  sir! 

STEVE. 

You're  a  bad  shot.  Try  the  other  barrel.  (Exit  JIM. 
To  LUCY.)  Do  you  trust  me? 

LUCY. 

I'd  like  to,  but  I  can't  after  the  way  you  treated  poor 
Mr.  Bostick.  Oh,  why  did  you  say  he  was  Brooke  Tra- 
vers? 

STEVE. 

Well,  somebody  had  to  be  Brooke  Travers. 

JIM. 
(At  door.)     Look  out!     Juanita's  coming! 

LUCY. 

What  shall  I  do? 

[110] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

(Pushing  LUCY  behind  the  desk.)  Get  behind  me,  get 
behind  me.  (JUANITA  enters  from  upper  right  leading  the 
CORPORAL  by  the  ear.  At  centre  she  pushes  him  from  her 
and  enters.) 

JUANITA. 

Don't  try  to  stop  me!  Where  is  the  traitor ?  (JUANITA 
discovers  STEVE  and  LUCY.)  Ah,  ha!  and  the  girl  too! 

STEVE. 
(To  LUCY.)     Look  out!  she's  got  a  knife! 

JUANITA. 

Senorita,  I  want  a  word  with  you. 

STEVE. 

(Timidly.)     How  do  you  do?     You  didn't  go  to  New 

York,  did  you  ? 

JUANITA. 

Traitor !  I  will  have  my  revenge  on  you  later.  You  can 
wait. 

STEVE. 

Oh,  yes!  I  can  wait.     I'm  in  no  hurry. 

JUANITA. 

Senorita,  you  wish  to  marry  the  man  I  love.  Well,  I 
have  come  to  ask  you  why? 

LUCY. 
Why  what? 

JUANITA. 

Why  should  you  marry  the  man  I  love.  What  have 
you  done  for  him,  that  you  should  be  his  wife?  Have  you 
ever  saved  him  from  a  jail;  have  you  brought  him  food 

[111] 


THE   DICTATOR 

when    he   starved;   have    you,  with  your  knife  in  hand, 
fought  for  him  in  the  public  street? 

LUCY. 
I  certainly  have  not! 

JUANITA. 

(Scornfully.)     No,  not  you]  not  youl 

STEVE. 

You  see,  where  she  comes  from  young  ladies  who  fight  in 
the  streets  find  it  difficult  to  get  anybody  to  marry  them. 

JUANITA. 

You  are  a  child,  you  are  afraid,  you  should  marry  a  man 
(points  contemptuously  at  STEVE)  like  that — 

STEVE. 

Yes,  just  like  me.     That's  what  I've  been  telling  her. 

LUCY. 

Madam,  what  right  have  you  to  question    me    about 
Mr.  Bostick? 

JUANITA. 

What  right?     Because  I  love  him.     I  would  go  with  him 
to  the  end  of  the  world. 

STEVE. 
Well,  there's  a  steamer  leaving  in  just  ten  minutes — 

JUANITA. 

And  if  you  want  Arthur  Bostick  for  your  husband  you 
will  have  to  fight  for  him. 

STEVE. 

Oh,  well,  that  settles  it !     If  we  have  to  fight  for  him,  we 
don't  want  him,  do  we?     We'll  let  him  go. 

[112] 


THE  DICTATOR 

LUCY. 

Pardon  me,  madam,  but  I  cannot  discuss  my  engage 
ment  with  you. 

JUANITA. 

Very  well.  (Goes  up  centre.)  Then  you  shall  discuss  it 
with  Mr.  Bostick  in  my  presence.  He  is  at  the  hotel.  I 
will  bring  him  here,  and  he  shall  choose  between  us. 

(Exits  centre.) 

LUCY. 

Oh!  this  is  intolerable!  How  dare  she  bring  him 
here  to  choose  between  us?  I  won't  bear  it!  It  is 
humiliating,  insulting.  I  have  come  all  the  way  down 
here  to  marry  Mr.  Bostick  because  my  conscience  told 
me  to,  and  now  he  can't  make  up  his  mind  whether  he 
wants  to  marry  me  or  somebody  else.  If  he  doesn't  make 
up  his  mind  soon,  7  will. 

STEVE. 

That's  the  way  to  talk!  That's  splendid!  You're  a 
girl  after  my  own  heart.  That  is,  I  wish  you  were.  I've 
suspected  several  young  ladies  of  being  after  my  own  money 
but  no  one  has  ever  cared  for  my  heart,  and  it's  all  yours — 
and  you  don't  want  it.  (Sadly.)  Oh,  how  different  things 
might  have  been,  if  they'd  only  been  different ! 

LUCY. 
(Gently.)     In  what  way  different? 

STEVE. 

Oh,  if  you  could  only  have  cared  for  me — and  if  Campos 
wasn't  going  to  shoot  me  on  sight,  and  if  I  could  go  back 
home  without  going  to  jail. 

LUCY. 

(Incredulously.)     To  jail?     You? 
[113] 


THE  DICTATOR 


STEVE. 

Miss  Sheridan,  I  have  deceived  you  outrageously.  If 
you  knew  the  truth  you  would  despise  me. 

LUCY. 
No,  Mr.  Steve 

STEVE. 

My  name's  not  Steve.     I'm  Brooke  Travers  myself! 

LUCY. 
Brooke  Travers! 

STEVE. 

(Alarmed.)  Hush!  Don't  let  anybody  know  it.  Down 
here  they  think  I'm  Colonel  Bowie. 

LUCY. 
Why  do  they  think  you  are  Colonel  Bowie? 

STEVE. 

I  guess  I  must  have  told  them.  I  bribed  Bowie  to  let  me 
take  his  name.  You  despise  me.  You're  right.  But  I 
swear  to  you,  Miss  Sheridan,  that  the  only  thing  of  which 
I  have  been  certain  since  I  left  New  York  was  that  I  love 
you  more  than  any  other  woman  I  ever  knew. 

LUCY. 
Don't,  please  don't,  Mr.  Steve!     I'm  sorry. 

STEVE. 
Only  sorry? 

LUCY. 

Don't  think  it's  easy  for  me.  I  promised — and  I've 
kept  my  promise.  I'm  here!  Two  thousand  miles  from 
my  home,  and  Mr.  Bostick  is  ashamed  to  show  his  face. 

[114] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

No  he  isn't,  here  he  comes  now.  (Enter  BOSTICK  and 
JUANITA.)  Now,  Mr.  Bostick,  this  is  a  great  crisis  in  your 
life  and  I  want  to  advise  you. 

BOSTICK. 
I  can't  see  that  you  have  any  interest  in  this. 

STEVE. 

I  haven't.  That's  the  reason  my  advice  is  so  valuable. 
If  you  want  a  wife  who  never  will  bore  you,  I  advise  you  to 
choose  Juanita. 

BOSTICK. 

Thank  you,  but  I  promised  Miss  Sheridan.  My  con 
science — 

STEVE. 

Never  mind  your  conscience.  Think  of  your  heart — 
remember,  Juanita  saved  you  from  jail. 

BOSTICK. 
You're  right. 

JUANITA. 

Arthur,  I'm  waiting. 

BOSTICK. 

Juanita,  will  you  be  my  wife? 

LUCY. 
(With  delight.)     I'm  free!     Free! 

STEVE. 

I  congratulate  you,  Bostick. 

BOSTICK. 

Thank  you.     Juanita  will  make  <«Ji  ideal  wife  for  a  mis- 
[115] 


THE  DICTATOR 

sionary.     She  will  persuade  many  of  the  natives  to  enter 
my  church. 


STEVE. 


If  she  persuades  them  the  way  she  persuaded  me,  I  bet 
they  enter  your  church  on  the  run. 


JUANITA. 


(Grimly.)  I'd  like  to  see  anyone  stay  out  of  my 
Arthur's  church. 

STEVE. 

(To  BOSTICK.)  I  can't  see  how  I  ever  mistook  you  for 
Brooke  Travers.  He  never  could  have  shown  the  courage 
that  you  are  exhibiting  now.  (To  JUANITA.)  My  best 
wishes,  senora.  (BOSTICK  crosses  to  LUCY,  who  shakes 
hands  with  him.) 

JUANITA. 
The  same  to  you —     Have  you  told  her  who  you  are? 

STEVE. 
Yes. 

JUANITA. 

And  you  have  asked  her  to  marry  you  ? 

STEVE. 
No. 

JUANITA. 

It  would  be  a  brave  girl  who  would  marry  an  escaped 
criminal. 

STEVE. 

Well,  the  man  who  is  to  be  your  next  husband  is  no 
coward. 

[116] 


THE   DICTATOR 


HOSTICK. 


We  would  he  happy,  Consul,  if  you  would  add  the  joy 
of  your  countenance  to  our  wedding  breakfast. 

STEVE. 

I'm  sorry,  but  if  I  go  outside  of  the  consulate  I  will  be 

shotted. 

BO8TICK. 

I'm   sorry!     Good-by!     (BoSTlCK  exit  centre.) 

JU  ANITA. 

Wait  forme,  Arthur!  Se-iiorita,  let  me  advise  you  the 
next  time  not  to  wait  too  long  to  get  married,  as  the  senor- 
itas  here  are  very  attractive. 

LUCY. 

I  thank  you,  but  I  prefer  to  remain  free. 
JUANITA. 

If  you  marry  that  man  (points  at  STEVE),  you  will  be 
free  in  a  week. 

LUCY. 
Free  in  a  week? 

JUANITA. 

Yes,  you  will  be  his  widow. 
STEVE. 

I've  got  as  good  a  chance  to  live  as  Bostick.  (Exit 
JUANITA.  HYNE  rushes  on  left  followed  by  jour  soldiers. 
JIM  appears  left.) 

HYNE. 

Colonel,  Campos  is  returning  for  you. 
[117] 


THE  DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

Campos ! 

HYNE. 

With  a  hundred  soldiers. 

STEVE. 
I'm  paying  for  those  soldiers. 

HYNE. 
Yes,  but  he  has  them. 

STEVE. 
(To  LUCY.)  You  must  go  back  to  the  hotel.  Quick! 

LUCY. 
No,  I  won't  leave  you  when  you  are  in  trouble. 

STEVE. 

Then  you'll  never  leave  me,  for  I'm  always  in  trouble. 
but  now,  please  go. 

LUCY. 

(Moving  to  chair  below  desk.)     No,  I  will  not. 

STEVE. 

Very  well,  then  give  me  moral  support.  I  need  it.  (To 
soldiers.)  Here!  You're  not  a  guard  of  honor  now.  No, 
I'm  your  prisoner.  You're  keeping  me  prisoner.  Take 
away  that  barricade,  Jim;  hide  that  shotgun.  Look  in 
nocent  everybody,  look  innocent.  Look  as  though  you 
never  heard  of  a  revolution.  (Outside  left  are  heard  cries 
of  "  Viva  el  Presidtnte!  Viva!  Viva!"  CAMPOS  enters 
left  accompanied  by  officer  and  two  soldiers  who  remain  on 
top  step.  After  his  erdrance  orders  of  command  are  heard 
from  outside,  snggesnrir/  tJie  presence  of  a  large  number  of 
troops.  The  CORPORA^  and  the  three  other  soldiers  raise 

[118] 


THE   DICTATOR 

their  rifles  to  CAMPOS  in  salute.     CAMPOS  looks  with  some 
surprise  at  LUCY,  and  bows  stiffly.     Then  to  STEVE.) 

CAMPOS. 

Well,  Colonel  Bowit,  I  have  found  you  out. 
STEVE. 

No,  you  find  me  in.  Naturally,  with  soldiers  at  each 
door— 

CAMPOS. 

I  have  read  your  proclamation  in  the  Plaza.  I  come 
myself  to  take  you  to  El  Morro  prison. 

STEVE. 

Oh,  I  think  not!  Not  this  American  Consul.  When 
my  President  hears  of  this — 

CAMPOS. 
Your  President — he  will  never  hear  of  it. 

STEVE. 

(Points  off  to  harbor.)  Won't  he?  I'll  send  him  a 
report  by  the  Bolivar. 

CAMPOS. 

The  Bolivar  has  sailed  for  Jamaica  with  Sergeant  Duffy 
and  his  prisoner.  (Slowly  and  impressively.)  No,  you  will 
not  send  a  report  by  that  ship.  No  one  will  ever  hear  from 
you  again.  My  post  office  will  not  receive  your  letters,  no 
steamers  will  be  permitted  to  carry  one.  And  at  Puerto 
Banos  we  have  no  cable.  You  may  cry  out  for  help,  but 
the  four  walls  of  a  dungeon  carry  no  sounds.  (STEVE, 
overwhelmed  by  the  solemnity  of  this  sentence,  for  a  short  time 
stands  stupefied.  His  eyes  turn  helplessly  from  LUCY  to 
HYNE,  until  finally  they  rest  upon  the  wireless.  He  smiles 
exultingly.  HYNE,  jollowing  the  direction  of  his  eyes, 

[119] 


THE   DICTATOR 

comprehends,  find  they  approach  and  silently  shake  hands. 
LUCY  is  puzzled.     JIM  remains  unmoved.} 

STEVE. 

(To  CAMPOS.)  Yes,  you're  right  about  a  dungeon  cell 
being  a  poor  transmitter.  But  my  government  is  an  up- 
to-date  government  and  every  Consul's  office  nowadays  is 
fitted  up  with  one  of  those!  (Points  at  wireless.) 

CAMPOS. 
The  wireless!     You  can  talk — with  him! 

STEVE. 

I  can  talk  with  him  or  her  or  anybody  I  want  to.  What 
do  you  suppose  I  keep  it  for?  Why — I've  had  that  work 
ing  overtime  ever  since  you  put  me  under  arrest.  I've 
had  New  York  on  the  wire  since — 

CAMPOS. 

New  York !  Oh  no !  oh  no !  You  cannot,  how  you  say  ? 
— pull  the  blind  over  my  eyes.  New  York  is  two  thousand 
miles  away. 

STEVE. 

Pardon  me,  I  said  the  New  York — 


CAMPOS. 

Yes,   I  know,  the   City   of  New   York — two  thousand 
miles — 

STEVE. 

No,  no,  the  battleship  New  York — ten  thousand  tons. 

CAMPOS. 

You  talk — with  that — to  a  battleship. 

[120] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

I've  been  talking  all  morning  to  the  whole  Caribbean 
squadron.  There  are  four  battleships,  six  cruisers,  and  a 
dozen  torpedo  boats.  (To  HYNE.)  Hyne,  where  was 
that  squadron  when  we  called  it  up  last? 

HYNE. 
I  think — it  was  about — 

STEVE. 
About  twenty  miles  off  shore,  wasn't  it? 

HYNE. 

Yes,  about  twenty,  or  possibly  twenty-one. 

STEVE. 

Yes,  perhaps  twenty-one,  and  they  were  coming  this 
way  at  fifteen  knots  an  hour,  weren't  they?  At  full  speed, 
I  think  you  said. 

HYNE. 

Full  speed,  and  cleared  for  action. 

STEVE. 

(Looking  off  at  door  centre  toward  harbor.)  Why,  I 
believe  the  torpedo  boats  are  coming  in  now. 

CAMPOS. 

(Running  to  window  upper  left.)  No,  no,  you  do  not. 
7  do  not  see  them. 

STEVE. 

Of  course  you  can't  see  them.  They  are  submarines. 
(To  HYNE.)  You  might  just  call  them  up  again  to  con 
vince  the  President  that  they  really  are  coming.  (To  JIM 
impressively.)  Jim,  go  into  my  bedroom — and — bring 
me  my  cigar  case. 


THE  DICTATOR 

JIM. 

Yes,  sir.     (Exit  door  right.) 

STEVE. 

(In  a  whisper  to  LUCY.)  I  have  a  private  wire  into  that 
room.  Jim  sends  the  answers.  (To  CAMPOS.)  Will  you 
have  a  cigar,  General? 

CAMPOS. 

(Nervously,  with  his  eyes  turned  toward  the  wireless.) 
No,  gracias,  I  have  not  the  appetite. 

STEVE. 

Hyne,  just  call  up  the  Admiral.  (HYNE  solemnly  works 
the  key  of  the  wireless.) 

CAMPOS. 
The  Admiral !     Which  Admiral  is  that  ? 

STEVE. 

There  is  only  one  "  the  "  Admiral — sit  down  and  you  will 
hear  him  talk  to  me.  (CAMPOS  and  his  officer  sit  on  bench 
left,  while  HYNE  works  the  key.  There  is  a  pause.  HYNE 
stops,  and  STEVE  listens  complacently  for  the  reply.)  Now, 
you'll  hear  how  it  works.  (After  a  longer  pause,  STEVE 
glances  uneasily  toward  the  door  right,  and  coughs.  HYNE 
looks  off  right  and  coughs  more  violently.) 

CAMPOS. 

(To  his  officer.)  The  Admiral — I  think  he  is  asleep! 
(He  laughs  jeeringly.) 

OFFICER. 

Si,  Excellency,  si.     (They  both  laugh.) 

HYNE. 

(Nervously.)     Now,  General,  there's  quite  a  little  fog 
[122] 


THE   DICTATOR 

out  there;    in  a  fog   the  electric  waves  don't  vibrate  as 
quickly — 

STEVE. 

And  icebergs — several  icebergs,  they're  always  in  the  way 
when  you — 

CAMPOS. 

(To  the  officer.}     Icebergs!     In  the  tropics!      Yes,  ha! 

lui!     (They  laugh.} 

STEVE. 

(Sternly.}  You  might  just  repeat  that  message,  Hyne. 
Hurry  him  up  a  bit;  speak  sharply  to  him.  I  don't  care  if 
he  is  the  Admiral,  he's  no  right  to  keep  a  Consul  waiting. 

HYNE. 

No,  certainly  not.  (Works  key,  while  he  looks  anxiously 
at  door  right.)  Hello!  Hello!  Hello! 

STEVE. 

(With  confidence.)  That  will  fetch  him,  I  think.  Now 
you  wait  and  you'll  hear  him  speak.  (There  is  a  pause. 
As  no  answer  comes,  STEVE  shows  his  dismay.  JIM 
enters  from  room  right,  unconcernedly  carrying  a  cigar 
case.  He  comes  down  to  STEVE  and  proffers  it  to  him.) 

JIM. 

Your  cigars,  sir. 

STEVE. 

You — you  idiot !     Cigars !     What  do  I  want  with  cigars  ? 

JIM. 
You  said  cigars,  sir. 

STEVE. 

I  said — I  said,  I  want  cigarettes.  Keep  your  ears  open, 
can't  you?  Listen!  If  you'd  listen,  you'd  known  what  I 

[123] 


THE   DICTATOR 

do  want.  Go  back  there  and  get  me  the  Navy  Plug  cigar 
ettes,  the  Admiral  cigarettes,  the  Battle-ax,  battleship 
cigarettes  and  keep  your  ears  open.  Get  out! 

JIM. 
Yes,  sir.     (Runs  off  right.} 

CAMPOS. 

(Rises.}  Well,  I  have  waited  so  long  as  I  can.  You 
come  with  me  now  to  El  Morro. 

HYNE. 

(Excitedly.)  No,  no!  (Works  key.  At  the  sound,  CAM 
POS  halts  uncertainly.) 

STEVE. 

Take  me  to  El  Morro  now?  With  a  squadron  and 
the  Admiral  at  your  very  gates? 

CAMPOS. 

(Advances  to  him.)  Bah!  you  make  a  bluff.  There  is 
no  Admiral,  there  is  no  squadron.  You  are  a  Yankee 
fraud.  (HYNE  withdraws  from  the  key.  There  is  a 
pause.  The  eyes  of  all  are  turned  upon  the  wireless.  Then 
the  key  ticks  slowly  in  answer.  CAMPOS  starts  in  conster 
nation.) 

STEVE. 

General — listen ! 

CAMPOS. 
What  is  that? 

STEVE    AND    HYNE. 

Hush!  (They  pretend  to  listen.  They  look  at  each 
other,  nodding  approvingly  and  smiling  as  though  what  the 
wireless  said  amused  them.  They  move  their  lips  as 
though  reading  a  message.) 

[124] 


THE   DICTATOR 

CAMPOS. 

(Breathlessly.}     You  understand  him,  eh? 

STEVE. 

(Impatiently.}  Hush!  can't  you?  (The  key  ceases 
ticking.  STEVE  heaves  a  sigh  of  relief,  as  though  greatly 
pleased  with  the  message.) 

CAMPOS. 

What  does  he  say? 

STEVE. 

What  does  he  say?     Can't  you  understand  the  Morse 

alphabet? 

CAMPOS. 

No,  what  did  he  say? 

STEVE. 

(  To  HYNE,  laughing.)  He  wants  to  know  what  he  said. 
(  They  laugh,  their  laughter  increases.)  You  don't  want 
to  know  what  he  said?  (To  HYNE.)  It  was  just  like 
George,  wasn't  it? 

HYNE. 

The  very  image  of  him. 

STEVE. 

You  could  almost  hear  his  voice?  Just  the  sort  of 
thing  George  would  say. 

CAMPOS. 
George?     Who  is  George? 

STEVE. 

The  Admiral.     George  Dewey. 

CAMPOS. 
Bah!     I  don't  believe  you! 

[125] 


THE   DICTATOR 

STEVE. 

All  right!  You  don't  believe  me,  eh?  Hyne,  just  send 
him  one  from  me.  (Dictates.)  "The  Admiral,  on  board 
Olympia,  off  Porto  Banos."  (HYNE  works  keys.)  Got 
that?  "Dear  George — the  President  is  here,  the  Presi 
dent  is  here  " — and  no,  say,  "  the  man  who  was  President 
is  here  and  is  using  threatening  language."  Wait !  "  Please 
throw  a  twelve-inch  shell " — no,  make  it  a  six-inch.  We 
don't  want  to  blow  up  the  whole  town.  "Throw  a  six- 
inch  shell  into  the  Plaza  to  let  them  know  you're  com 
ing.  "  Sign  it  "Bowie,  Consul."  (Triumphantly  to  CAM 
POS.)  The  answer  to  that  will  be  a  six-inch  shell. 

CAMPOS. 

(Savagely.}  And  the  answer  to  that — will  be  two  hun 
dred  six-inch  shells  from  the  fortress  of  Puerto  Banos!  I 
will  sink  those  ships!  I  will  blow  up  those  ships!  I  will 
fill  the  harbor  with  scrap  iron! 

STEVE. 

(Alarmed.)  Here,  you  mustn't  talk  in  that  way  of  an 
American  warship;  you  don't  appreciate  your  danger.  You 
ought  to  be  frightened. 

CAMPOS. 

Me,  frightened!  I  will  fight  those  ships  until  Puerto 
Banos  lies  in  ruins.  (To  soldiers.)  Guard  that  man  well. 
(To  STEVE.)  When  I  have  placed  my  soldiers  on  the  ram 
parts,  I  will  return  and  shoot  you  with  my  own  hand.  (He 
draivs  his  sword.)  In  ten  minutes.  Unless  your  battle 
ships  arrive  in  ten  minutes,  you  are  a  dead  man.  (Rushes 
off,  followed  by  officer,  shouting.)  To  the  ramparts! 
Death  to  the  Americans!  (Cheers,  and  the  cry  "Death 
to  the  Americans!"  is  heard.  STEVE,  LUCY,  and  HYNE 
listen  in  alarm.  Each  time  the  cry  is  repeated  they  jump 
nervously.) 

[120] 


THE   DICTATOR 

HYNE. 

(In  an  awed  whisper.}     What  are  you  going  to  do? 

STEVE. 

What  can  I  do  ?  Can  I  evolve  battleships  out  of  thin  air 
in  ten  minutes? 

LUCY. 

You  shouldn't  have  frightened  him. 

STEVE. 

Frightened  him!  Did  he  act  to  you  as  though  he  were 
'lightened.  (Points  left.  To  HYNE.)  Go  watch  in  the 
street,  and  let  me  know  when  he's  coming.  (HYNE  exits 

left.) 

LUCY. 

Now  you  must  try  to  escape.  You  still  have  seven 
minutes. 

STEVE. 

No,  dear  girl,  even  if  I  could  escape,  I  couldn't  leave  you. 
(He  takes  her  hands  and  kisses  them.)  Good-by.  (The 
wireless  begins  to  tick  slowly.  At  the  sound  STEVE  raises 
his  head.)  Confound  that  idiot!  (Calls  off  right.)  Jim, 
stop  that  noise!  (The  instrument  continues  to  tick.)  Stop 
it,  there's  no  use  doing  that  now,  he's  gone.  (STEVE  turns 
to  LUCY.  JIM  enters  and  comes  down  unseen  by  STEVE  and 
LUCY.  The  wireless  continues  to  tick.)  Confound  that 
idiot!  (STEVE  turns  and  in  amazement,  sees  JIM,  and  from 
him  looks  at  the  wireless.)  Who's  doing  that? 

JIM. 
I  don't  know,  sir.     I'm  not. 

STEVE. 
(Rushes  to  wireless  excitedly.)      Good  heavens!     We've 

M«7] 


THE  DICTATOR 

hooked  something !  We've  tapped  a  real  wire !  (Calls  off 
left.)  Hyne!  Hyne!  come  here!  we've  got  a  bite,  we've  got 
a  bite!  (HYNE  runs  on  left  and  halts  on  steps,  listening  to 
the  wireless.) 

HYNE. 

(Excitedly.)  Hush!  That's  some  one  calling  us.  (He 
runs  to  instrument  and  violently  works  the  key.) 

STEVE. 

(Hysterically.)  Don't  lose  him !  Play  him  gently !  Be 
careful!  Don't  let  him  get  away  from  you ! 

HYNE. 

(Leaning  over  key.)  Hush,  be  quiet!  (The  instrument 
ticks  in  answer.) 

STEVE. 

Who — who  is  it?     What's  he  say? 

HYNE. 
He's  calling  us  up!     He  wants  to  know  who  we  are! 

STEVE. 

Never  mind  who  we  are,  find  out  who  he  is.  Tell  him 
we're  in  great  danger,  we  want  help,  we  want  it  quick. 
(HYNE  works  the  key.)  What  did  you  say  to  him? 

HYNE. 

I  asked  him  who  he  is.     (The  key  answers.) 

STEVE. 
Who  is  he? 

HYNE. 

Hush!  He's  trying  to  tell  me.  (As  the  instrument 
sounds,  HYNE'S  lips  move  as  though  Beading  a  message.) 
"  The— battleship— Oregon." 

[128] 


THE   DICTATOR 

LUCY". 

(Wildly.}     A  battleship!     We're  saved! 

JIM. 

Hurrah! 

STEVE. 

(In  (jreat  excitement.}  Keep  your  hand  on  the  key. 
Don't  let  him  get  away  from  you. 

HYNE. 

(Work-ing  key  violently.)  What  good  can  she  do  us? 
She  may  be  two  hundred  miles  away. 

STEVE. 

Two  hundred  miles?     And  Campos  is  coming  back  in 

two  minutes.     Find  out  where  she  is,  can't  you  ? 

HYNE. 

That's  what  I'm  trying  to  do,  if  you'll  only  keep  quiet. 
I  want  to  find  out  where  she  is  just  as  much  as  you  do. 
I  don't  want  to  die.  (They  all  wait  breathlessly  for  the 
answer.  The  key  answers.  HYXE  raises  his  hand  for 
silence.)  Hush!  (He  reads  message  aloud.)  "Ten  min 
utes  ago — we — landed — marines  at  Porto  Banos."  (HYNE 
shouts.)  She's  here  now! 

STEVE. 

Hurrah!  (He  embraces  JIM.  HYNE  embraces  LUCY, 
and  then  leaps  around  stage,  shouting  and  waving  his  hat. 
STEVE  in  search  for  marine  glasses  throws  all  the  books  and 
papers  off  the  desk.  With  glasses  he  runs  to  centre  door, 
and  looks  toward  harbor.)  There  she  is!  As  big  as  the 
I;lariron  Building!  (He  seizes  LUCY  and  waltzes  with  her. 
Outside  cheers  and  cries  are  heard.)  "  Los  Americanos  /" 
"  Los  A  rnericanos  ! '' 

[129] 


THE  DICTATOR 

CORPORAL. 

(Running  on  left.)  Excellency!  The  Americanos,  the 
Americanos!  (LIEUTENANT  VICTOR  and  a  dozen  blue 
jackets  carrying  arms  run  down  steps.) 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

(Saluting.)     Are  you  the  American  Consul,  sir? 

STEVE. 

Never  mind  who  7  am.  You're  here,  that's  the  main 
thing.  You're  in  charge  of  this  office.  (Shakes  his  hand 
violently.)  And  you  didn't  take  charge  a  minute  too  soon. 
(Shakes  hands  warmly  with  each  blue  jacket.)  How  are 
you?  How  do  you  do?  I  am  very  glad  to  see  you. 
(Slips  between  two  of  them  and  takes  an  arm  of  each.)  Say, 
I'll  never  leave  you  fellows.  Don't  lose  sight  of  me,  will 
you? 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

Your  wireless  was  to  Admiral  Dewey,  but  we  read  it.  I 
was  sent  ashore  to  protect  Americans. 

STEVE. 

The  only  Americans  in  Porto  Banos  are  in  this  room. 
So  you  just  stay  where  you  are. 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

(Saluting.)  Very  good,  sir.  (To  the  blue  jackets.) 
Guard  that  door  over  there — and  you  fall  back  on  that  one. 
(Blue  jackets  separate  and  at  each  door  stand  at  attention. 
To  STEVE.)  Oh,  Mr.  Consul!  before  leaving  Porto 
Rico,  we  received  instructions  to  inquire  here  for  an 
American  named  Duffy.  Have  you  heard  of  him? 

STEVE. 
(Alarmed.)     Duffy? 

[130] 


THE  DICTATOR 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

Yes,  Duffy — have  you  seen  him?  (All  look  consciously 
at  STEVE.  JIM  draws  near  him  on  his  right.  LUCY  and 
HYNE  are  at  writing  desk.) 

STEVE. 
(Cautiously.)     Yes,  I've  seen  him. 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

Did  he  say  anything  to  you  about  Brooke  Travers  and 
his  valet?  (JiM  falls  Jielplessly  against  STEVE.) 

STEVE. 

(Aside  to  JIM.)  Stand  up,  can't  you?  (Aloud.)  Yes, 
I  think  he  did  casually  mention  the  name. 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

It's  a  terrible  affair.  Even  in  Porto  Rico  the  papers 
are  full  of  that  murder.  (STEVE  collapses  against  JIM.) 

STEVE. 
(7/i  a  weak  voice.)     Then — then — it  was  murder? 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

Yes,  it  seems  that  Travers  and  his  servant  got  into  a 
fight  on  a  wharf  with  a  cabman  and  a  crowd  of  roughs. 
Travers  had  on  his  person  twenty-five  thousand  dollars. 
That  was  the  last  time  they  were  seen  alive.  So  it's  pretty 
evident  that  they  were  both  robbed  and  murdered.  (JiM 
whispers  excitedly  to  STEVE.) 

STEVE. 

(To  JIM.)  Be  quiet!  He's  trying  to  make  us  confess. 
It's  a  trap.  He's  trying  to  make  us  give  ourselves  away. 
(Turns  suspiciously  to  LIEUTENANT.)  But  why — why,  if 

[131] 


THE   DICTATOR 

these  men  were  murdered  in  New  York  is  Duffy  looking 
for  them — down  here? 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

Two  men  answering  their  description  sailed  on  the 
Bolivar  a  few  hours  after  the  murder.  Duffy  was  ordered 
here  to  find  out  if  they  were  the  men.  Their  friends  sent 
him. 

STEVE. 

Their  friends!     Then  why  did  he  try  to  arrest  them? 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

(Indignantly.)  Arrest  them?  The  idiot!  He  was  told 
to  find  them. 

STEVE. 

(Eagerly.)     And — and  the  cabman — is  he  alive? 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

Of  course, 

STEVE. 

(Wildly.)  Then  if  Brooke  Travers  was  not  murdered, 
could  he  come  to  life  again  without  being  hanged? 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

Certainly. 

STEVE. 

Jim,  we've  been  murdered  for  two  weeks,  and  we  didn't 
know  it. 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

What  do  you  mean  ?     Who  are  you  ? 

STEVE. 

I  am  Brooke  Travers,  and  this — is  my  murdered  valet. 
(Stiffly.)  Simpson,  you  can  come  to  life  now. 

[132] 


THE   DICTATOR 

JIM. 

Thank  you,  Colonel. 

STEVE. 
Not  Colonel  now — Mr.  Travers. 

JIM. 
Yes,  Mr.  Travers. 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

But  I  thought  you  were  Colonel  Bowie! 

STEVE. 

It's  a  long  story.  I  thought  I  was  going  to  be  killed, 
and  I —  (Outside  there  is  a  sudden  sound  of  firing,  shouts 
and  cries  of  "  Viva,  viva  BOWIE  ! "  LIEUTENANT  draws  his 
sword  and  motions  blue  jackets  left.)  "Viva  Bowie !"- 
why —  (Suddenly.)  That's  my  revolution!  (Looks  at 
watch.)  To  the  minute!  To  the  minute!  (To  LIEU 
TENANT.)  Sir,  in  me  you  now  see  the  President  and  Dic 
tator  of  San  Manana. 

LIEUT.    VICTOR. 

(Gravely  saluting  STEVE.)  As  the  representatives  of  the 
United  States,  we  recognize  your  government. 

STEVE. 

That's  the  fastest  recognition  on  record.  That  beats 
Panama.  (Takes  LucvtVi/m  arms.)  Lucy,  I  will  go  home. 
If  I  must  be  a  dictator,  I  prefer  to  do  my  dictating  to  a 
stenographer  in  little  old  New  York. 

CURTAIN. 


[133] 


University  of  California 

SOUTHERN  REGIONAL  LIBRARY  FACILITY 

305  De  Neve  Drive  -  Parking  Lot  17  •  Box  951388 

LOS  ANGELES,  CALIFORNIA  90095-1388 

Return  this  material  to  the  library  from  which  it  was  borrowed. 


NON-RENEWABLE 


IUU--6TIA 
JAN  1  0  200; 


DUE  1 WKS  FROM  DATE  RECEIVED 


A     000138315     7 


Unj 


